Social (Doesn't) Work.

 

Me right now and evermore.

 

 

 

Apologies for the seemingly constant gripes and complaints at the moment but heyho, that's real life for you - if you want inspirational Autism memes you'd be best to go elsewhere.

But after a week of meetings, excuses and a total and utter meltdown/shutdown situation (whilst out in public, yay me) I'm sitting here in my PJs feeling emptier and more useless than I have ever felt before, the last few weeks of constant - and intense - dealings Social Work and to a lesser extent education - have made me realise how as an Autistic adult your suggestions and solutions are just ignored even if you have experience of the problem at hand.

I'm freeform ranting right now cos it's literally the only thing I can do to clear my head of all the anger and frustration that's been building up for 3 years or so whilst trying to organise the kids going to college.

Yes, that's all we're trying to do....not a trip to the fucking moon or a castle to live in, just getting a PA to escort them from A to B.

A Social Worker the other week said that the most requested help from parents of Autistic kids is either for support when applying for college or help applying for guardianship, now you'd think with that information they'd maybe, just maybe tailor the service to take that into account.

Well he told me no they don't because budgets or something.

Yes, it's easier for SW (who are constantly complaining about being stressed and underfunded) to piss funding and resources up the wall on strategies that don't work or aren't relevant.

But what do I know?

I mean I doubt anyone really reads my stuff or listens to me anyway, I know for sure that no-one in positions of authority or capable of helping does...or in the case of organisations like Social Work are even capable of reading.

I mean come on, they show a distinct lack of self-awareness, logic or basic empathy outside "Oh but you don't understand how hard our job is!" and "Our hands are tied!" which I'm pretty sure they learn en masse in a big room via the medium of handy soundbites before being sent forth into the crowds of desperate, cowering masses where they can give a head-tilt and an excuse for incompetence before heading home warm with the feeling that they've given a bit of time to the little people and whilst pretending to understand the issues involved because they shared a jigsaw piece meme back in April safe in the knowledge that because the entire SW system is choc full of arbitrary rules and procedures that absolutely no-one in real life can possibly adhere to that they'll actually have to do fuck all  for their clients yet still get paid handsomely for the privilege safe in the knowledge that the complete and utter failure of the social care system is nothing to do with them but something that they obviously can't attempt to fix because they're new to their job or scared of getting sacked before heading off to pat themselves on the back whilst celebrating World Social Work Day.

And yes that's a thing.

 

And breath....

As you probably realise, typing post-meltdown can be very full on.

Anyway you might be wondering what has happened to finally tip me over the edge and throw all my - hard learned - social niceties to the wind and come out screaming that I now don't give two fucks who I upset.

Well I was with Cassidy for his college registration on Wednesday when I realised that of the four students in his class (starting college next week) not one had a PA or transport option put in place by Social Work.

That's right, after 18 months notice of these kids needs SW had failed to implement anything.

The solution put forward is that whichever parent/carer is available has to now take the students to and from college.

Which is what we've had to do with the girls the past 2 plus years.

But here's the kicker, because a worker hasn't been allocated (to any child) the only way they can attend college is if a parent/carer accompanies them for the day.

Yup I'm now expected to work as a PA for my own child 3 days a week (9-3) and pay for the privilege.

Otherwise he can't attend college.

As an amusing/annoying aside Glasgow City Council (and SW, education dept. et al) pride themselves in their 'progressive' policies and the like and have actually signed up to The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy and Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but when you point out that this - and many other policies - are in flagrant breach of this you're met with a "I've not read it" or "that's not what it means!".

Signing up to stuff without reading it?

Seriously?

Well guess what?

I have and I'm looking forward to my trip to The Hague.

And breathe.

Except for viewers in Scotland.