Juhu school must allow boy with autism to attend: state

The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed a seven-year-old boy with autism, who was expelled from a prestigious Juhu school, to return to school on Friday.

The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed a seven-year-old boy with autism, who was expelled from a prestigious Juhu school, to return to school on Friday.

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The boy will initially have to attend the school for three hours a day, and gradually increase the period of time he spends at school.

A panel of experts will observe his school behavior starting on Monday for up to a month, and review whether the boy can continue to attend the school, or if he should be moved to a special school.

“The boy should attend school on Friday, when a ‘shadow teacher,’ someone who has a Bachelors in Education or a Diploma in education will accompany him,’’ said the commission.

The boy was expelled from the school last July. The parents approached the commission in October, and the commission passed an order on November 1, stating that the child should be allowed to attend school for 15 days under his parents’ supervision parents and be observed by a panel of experts, but the parents opposed the order, saying they wanted a permanent solution.

They approached the Bombay high court, which upheld the commission’s order on March 5 and referred the case back to it.