Olivier, 10 and autistic, is barred from the cafeteria indefinitely

It’s an unfair story that you may have seen circulating on social media these days. Olivier, 10, autistic, studies in a public school in the 9th arrondissement of Lyon. On 24 November, after having had a crisis between extracurricular hours and school hours, upon returning to class and during the absence of his ULIS (Local Unit for school inclusion) contact person, he was expelled indefinitely from the school canteen.

Since then, his mother has been absent from work every lunch hour, which is an hour away from her son’s school, so as not to leave him alone and to get him to eat, standing in front of the school.

A shortage of caring professions

Cécile, Olivier’s mother spoke on the microphone ofHandicap.frwhere he explains his story:

In this video we learn that after the canteen Olivier had a crisis, and that it could not be managed due to the non-presence of his owner from the ULIS. However, a protocol was in place and had proven itself, but this time it could not be applied, resulting in the child being excluded.

At the microphone of BFM LyonCécile is shocked:

My son, who has a disability, is excluded. The 2005 law is not respected, the inclusion of children with disabilities is not respected.

Olivier, meanwhile, says he is sad not to be able to eat at home with his friends, with whom he likes to chat and play. An exclusion that only reinforces a feeling of injustice. Since the shooting of the video, the school would have made an indoor room available to the child and the mother, so that they would no longer eat outside in the cold. But it’s not a lasting solution for either Olivier or his mother, who has to take a total of four hours off each day to be with her son.

The town hall of Lyon, in the person of Gregory Doucet, says it is very ” worried ” from the situation, and deplores a shortage of caring professions in the municipalities, and more particularly of AESH (student escorts with disabilities):

“Much more massive investments are needed”

But, in addition to deploring the lack of personnel, what are the solutions to ensure that this type of situation, unfortunately not isolated, does not happen again? How to ensure that no disabled child is excluded from the institutions of the Republic?

If a meeting between the municipality, the academic inspector and Olivier’s family is scheduled for Monday to find a solution to this specific case, it is urgent to rethink the training, perhaps more general, of all school staff, so that all children can be welcomed equally.

As Grégory Doucet states:

We know that we need much more investment, especially from the state and government.

Finally, you should know that extracurricular services are not the responsibility of National Education, but of cities and towns. There is a great need for massive investment, particularly from the government.

Photo credit image of one: Getty Images