MISERY OF BULLYING VICTIM

ANGRY mum Mandy Willard says her autistic son Lewis, 11, too is obsessed with death, caused by the stress of being denied the education and care he needs.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jun 2002, 13:08 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:47 BST

Last week we told the tragic story of Joshua Carey, desperate to die at 11 because he is autistic and cannot cope with noise and hurlyburly at his mainstream school.

Now, Mrs Willard, of St James Crescent, says Lewis, at St Peter and St Paul's School, is so churned up by his hectic school life he fears he will die in his sleep.

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In September he switches to Filsham Valley School, St Leonards, again with no specialist teachers, although the school has them on the pay-roll.

Lewis cannot benefit from their care because he has not been given a "statement" that he has special educational needs, even though he needs help with lessons, playtime and eating.

Mrs Willard says Lewis is so agitated he has virtually stopped eating, his weight has dropped alarmingly and he gets up a dozen times a night.

She said: "Lewis gets so stressed by noise and other children around him he thinks he is dying. When he goes to bed he asks if he will live through the night, or be dead by morning."

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Since Lewis was diagnosed three years ago Mrs Willard and her husband Paul have fought to get him a specialist teacher, winning an industrial tribunal last September which ruled Lewis needed special care. But he has still not been given the vital statement of special educational needs so his schooling can be individualised.

Mrs Willard said: "Lewis has been bullied all his life because he is different. He is confused by crowds and frightened when children approach him. Autistic children are very noise sensitive. Lewis is in a class of 35, so you can imagine what that does to him. The situation makes me angry. Autistic children need specialist teachers and a calm working environment away from disruptive, tormenting pupils who do not understand them."

A spokesman for East Sussex county council said: "Lewis' case is still under review. In cases like these schools have delegated budgets to help and support pupils with special education needs.

"This includes those pupils who have "statements". The county has a very good record of issuing statements. Ninety-seven per cent are issued within the statutory 18-week period."