Keeping safe with Child Protection: an action plan for Autistic parents seeking screening for their child
Unfortunately, it is a fact that in Australia, Autistic and ND mothers experience high rates of reporting by teachers, doctors and psychologists for Factitious Illness Abuse (otherwise known as MBPS - old name) on the basis of misinterpretation of their behaviour (Australian Autism Alliance, 2019).
Usually this happens in the context of them noting their child is developing differently to their peers and seeking support and diagnosis for them. Autistic mothers can be very persistent in seeking answers and support for their children - which is a strength, in my view.
We can also be anxious, due to overwhelming environments. We can be argumentative, or appear to be. Some of us can be demand avoidant and buck against authority (reporting for duty!)
We can have difficulty processing information, and need to ask a lot of questions and we can write and speak at length. Often, we may not enjoy eye contact, which can be read as deceptive - we know from recent research, that it is read this way by Neurotypical people (Lim, Flinders, 2021). We can experience emotional dysregulation, and we are more prone to conflict with co-parents. None of this is our fault, and all of it can be supported.
Unfortunately, all of these traits are strikingly similar to those that make up the Factitious Illness Abuse perpetrator profile - said not to exist, but of course the profile does exist and is still routinely relied on by child protection workers to detect “Munchie Mums”.
A high profile author who writes on this ‘specialist area’, encourages physicians to look out for “odd maternal behaviours”. This is obviously extremely concerning and does lead to the false detection of Autistic women as abusive parents.
Autistic mothers are in a high risk position if they come into contact with someone who reads their normal Autistic traits as part of the FIA perp profile. Dr Helen Hayward-Brown of Melbourne University has identified in her research that some doctors are more prone to this than others.
Some doctors are surrounded with clusters of reports - indicating that there is something particular about these doctors that leads them to report more often than their peers.
But on to the important stuff -
FIA is one of the few areas of concern where CP will act swiftly to remove once a report is made. I will not explain the reasons for this now as they are too complex.
Alternatively, they may refer the mother to Brighter Futures, a program which monitors the mother closely to look for corroborating evidence of FIA.
Here is an action plan for any parent of a child in your care who has expressed concern that their child's Paediatrician, teacher, GP, or allied health worker is expressing disbelief or suspicion regarding their reporting of their child's behaviours.
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This action plan is time critical because in cases where a report has been made, Child Protection legally can and often do remove children without a care order within days of a report being made. This can take months, even years to resolve. They will remove the child first, and then seek a care order through the Children’s Court. Legal aid only sometimes fund representation for Children’s Court - so if you can avoid getting there, it is crucial that you do.
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It is completely legal for Child Protection to remove your child on the basis of a risk assessment only. It is important you take immediate steps to reduce the perception of risks of your care so that when a safety and risk assessment is done, the decision to remove is not taken.
It is vital mothers and parents do not panic but simply follow the action plan below to protect their families.
ACTION PLAN
Step 1 - Immediately retain a Disability Advocate and ensure they attend all meetings and listen in on all phone calls with any mandatory reporters or CP. I work Independently, but you can also contact the Family Advocacy Service, Disability Advocate Network Australia, Disability Advocacy NSW and People with Disabilities Australia. Also IDRS. Stress the time critical nature of what is happening and that you need immediate assistance to prevent removal of the child.
Their contact details are:
Family Advocacy - communications@family-advocacy.com OR call 1800 620 588
Disability Advocacy Network Australia - https://www.dana.org.au/ (search for an advocate on their website)
Disability Advocacy NSW - https://www.da.org.au/
1300 365 065 / support@da.org.au
People with Disabilities Australia - https://pwd.org.au/get-help/individual-advocacy/
1800 422 015
Step 2: Calmly provide independent written documentation of the child's behaviour at school, or in allied health sessions, etc. It is important the parents, especially the mother, are not present when observations are recorded. It is better for your child to endure a short amount of stress at separation from you, and to have those independent observations made, than end up in Out of Home Care. This is difficult but critical. You must have evidence of the child's behaviour in another setting, in writing, observed by an independent person who is not family or friend.
Provide these notes to your paediatrician, doctor, teacher immediately and ensure they are aware they were made independently and without you there.
This can support that you are not manufacturing concerns and that others are observing the behaviour. These documents can be critical.
Step 3. Reduce conflict and find a way to have peaceful communication with anyone in authority ie. doctor etc. Evidence in these cases shows that power struggles and conflict are the flare point that prompts a report.
I highly reccommend this video on de escalating conflict - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR8Zzp6E8sI
This longer video is also a useful tool
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qsfBCatgX8
This is ESSENTIAL in managing relationships with MRs as an Autistic mother.
Step 4: Document your current supports and ensure your child is attending preschool, a playgroup that is facilitated and mainstream, attending all scheduled appointments, and is in "the eye of the community".
Child protection are more likely to intervene if a child is home schooled, attends an alternative school, or is under 6 and does not attend any preschools or play groups. They want to know that the child is seen in the community - this will reduce risk in the safety and risk assessment that they do.
I highly reccommend My Time playgroup for the parents of young children with Disabilities, and ensuring as much as possible regular attendance at daycare or school if they are enrolled. If they attend an alternative school, consider a mainstream extra curricular activity such as swimming, if possible. This will help reduce perception of risk and keep them in the view of other adults.
DOCUMENT YOUR SUPPORTS now and engage with more supports quickly. Ensure a mandatory reporter gets an email in which you list your supports - and how often you see them. Try not to miss any appointments if you can, and if you are absent, provide written explanation as to why.
You can get the support of your local Neighbourhood Centre. Often, they are ND friendly, and very supportive. Engaging early with supports for yourself as a parent is considered highly protective and will reduce the risk of removal. If you are already under the care of a social worker, your risk in the risk assessment will reduce.
Ensure you are connected to a counselor - free counseling is available at Women's Resource Centres, and is also free through the Victims of Crime scheme (you do not need to have reported any crime including DV to access this service). Neighbourhood Centres can also provide this, and it is seen as protective. You can also talk to your doctor about getting a Medicare Mental Health plan, which will subsiside the cost of counseling.
Obviously this list sounds a bit overwhelming - an advocate can help you connect to all these supports, make calls, write emails, etc. Same advice applies to fathers. You need to demonstrate that you are connected with support and are stable.
If you already have a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD etc, please ensure you have a written copy of this diagnosis and that this is provided to anyone who is responding poorly to your behaviours in communication. Don’t make a big deal about it, but DO highlight any behaviours that you feel are being misread. ie, not making eye contact, talking at length.
By providing CP with an alternate explanation for your behaviour, ie. the correct explanation, it will give them a way to do their job without jumping to conclusions.
Step 5 - DO NOT DENY any accusations of FIA or MBPS.
Denial of the allegation is also taken as proof of guilt - it forms part of the profile. Instead, use your advocate as a buffer, redirect attention to your supports and the independent documentation you have of your child's behaviours. It is best if you do not directly answer any allegations.
Step 6 - Keep a diary of all calls, letters, communication and events associated with your matter as this will be useful later. Ask your advocate, a friend, or family member to help you. Ask for help, and document any way you can.
Stay calm, provide independent evidence, do everything in writing, stay low conflict, and get an advocate.
