This is our story

by Kerry Kerschatt

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Dieter and Kerry Kerschatt

To look back over the years my son has been in my life, I think going to high school was the scariest. We had been lucky enough that through Kieran's life we could keep to small schools and on the average, it worked but high school, that was different. I know at times I will be speaking on things you already know, but I could not find anything written on the subject of high school. I had people looking at me strangely because I wanted my son to go to high school and so did Kieran. He wanted to go and enjoy the experience.

In our small town we had two primary schools but only one high school. I went to every parent teacher meeting and every information day. When I would ask about children with Aspergers, nobody knew what to say. They would change the subject or say, "Yes, we have had a child with that disorder. We know what to expect." But that is not Kieran. Every time a teacher would give me a word picture of what they thought a child with this disorder was, it was not my son. My boy did not fit any box, square or word picture that the Education Department would come up with. He was an individual and that never came into the equation; not for us anyway. When I tried to give them my explanation of my son, it was an uphill battle. I was told to go with the flow. I tried to put on a brave face. We went out and bought the uniforms and books, which we colour coded, and the year started.

At first, Kieran caught the bus to school. This started out alright but then he started to miss the bus. I would then drive him to school; no real harm, I really didn't think much of it. Then he missed the bus coming home. Boy, that did get my goat. One day I walked in on Kieran as he was getting changed and he had bruising across his back. When I asked him what happened he told me not to worry. How can a mum not worry? When I spoke to the school they told me boys get bruises and that I shouldn't worry. I asked that they please just keep an eye on him. The answer to that was that he is now a young man and he will be fine. But the next week I found new bruising. Kieran finally told me how it happened. At the bus stop the boys would call him tin man so they could remember to push him into the sports shed.

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Contact: Cooinda Family Support Group