INSULTS.

Tonight, I had one of the most insulting comments from my mother I have had for a while. "You're lucky you didn't have to go to a Special School." To which my response was, "Had I gone to a special school, it would have meant no Japanese, no Modern History, I would have received nothing but the basics." "That's what they do at a special school. Reading, writing and arithmetic."

I pointed out to my mother that I have friends who work at special schools, and they aim to bring out the best in their students, not just the basics. I said to her that had I gone to a special school, I would have needed one specially for autistic kids. "I don't know of any schools that specialise in autistic kids." "There's a few in England." "Well, maybe you should go over there."

As much as I believe in mainstream education for autistic kids, I believe that the first role of a teacher in a special school is to find the student's areas of interest and expertise and work to bring out their full potential. Special needs is about providing for students with special needs but also about nurturing their special interests and talents. After all, no child should be left behind.

And let's not forget that some of these special schools came about because mainstream educators, some of whom were snooty, declared that they could not educate students with disabilities, while mothers said, "Yes, you can, and if you won't, we will!" Hence Montrose Access was born.

My mother needs to understand that sending me to a special school would have been counterproductive and that what was needed was to fill in the cracks to stop me from falling through them. It is bad enough that she wouldn't accept that she's an autism Mum, but to say this was beyond the pale.