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Autism burnout cost teen three years' of school

BBC A father and son sat at a kitchen table, with one resting their forehead on their hand, in soft focus. Two GCSE text books are in the foreground.BBC
Experts said autistic burnout can cause profound distress and suffering

The parents of a 16-year-old boy said "autism burnout" has left him unable to attend school for three years.

Alistair is being home schooled by his mother Maggie at High Hurstwood near Uckfield, East Sussex.

His father Jarvis has called for schools to provide safe spaces for children to take time out when they are under stress.

East Sussex County Council said support is available for students who need it.

The problems began after lockdown, when Alistair's mother Maggie said getting him to school became a daily ordeal.

"This was real meltdowns every single day" she said, "self-harming, getting hysterical and just not being able to get him out the car.

"He was a shell of himself."

She gave up her job as a teacher to home school him.

She later went to a talk on autism burnout and said it all became clear.

"I think I was in tears for most of it, thinking 'this is what happened, this is exactly what happened to my son'. It was almost a textbook case."

Dr Georgie Siggers sits behind a desk. She is wearing glasses, a black cardigan and white blouse and an orange, white and blue scarf.
Dr Georgie Siggers said autism burnout can have a catastrophic effect

Autistic burnout is characterised by chronic exhaustion, increased sensory intolerance, loss of functioning and skills, physical complaints, and sleep disturbances.

Consultant neurodevelopmental paediatrician Dr Georgie Siggers said the condition can have a "catastrophic effect", causes profound suffering and recovery can take years.

She said: "They lose function, they lose their interest, it's not just that they can't go to school, they can't actually do anything that they enjoyed before."

Alistair's father, Jarvis, wants a more flexible approach from schools.

He said: "Part of the failure is it does not provide a safe space for a lot of students.

"If only schools had a space where students could step out and say 'I can breathe here, I can take time out'."

Maggie and Jarvis sit at a kitchen table, she wearing a purple dress and matching scarf, him a white t-shirt. A coffee cup is on the table in front of them.
Maggie and Jarvis said their son was turned into a shell of himself by autism burnout

East Sussex County Council said its Communication, Learning and Autism Support Service (CLASS) helps young people to access full time education, CLASS plus supports families and carers, with more information on the local offer east sussex website.

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