They Gave Up On My Child: When The School System Refuses To Support Autism with Vickie Chartrand

In this powerful episode of *Talk to Danielle*, host Danielle C. Baker sits down with Vickie Chartrand, a mother of a child on the autism spectrum, to confront the systemic failures within the education system. Vickie shares her harrowing journey of advocating for her son—whose Individualized Education Plan (IEP) spans 27 pages—only to face repeated dismissal, lack of implementation, and even punishment for behaviors stemming from unmet needs. She recounts how essential supports like sensory tools and executive function strategies are routinely ignored or removed, likening it to taking a wheelchair from a child who cannot walk. The conversation reveals the emotional toll on families, the trauma of being told her son must 'survive' in a grade seven class despite functioning at a grade three level, and the alarming lack of empathy from school boards that claim to support inclusion while delivering exclusionary practices. Danielle and Vickie emphasize that these failures harm not just autistic students but the entire classroom, as toxic environments erode trust and safety for all. The episode calls for a radical reimagining of education: classrooms that are calm, flexible, and built around real-world learning through technology, play, and therapy-informed strategies. Vickie’s vision includes safe, specialized learning environments where children can thrive at their own pace, supported by professionals who are welcomed into schools—not rejected. Both hosts stress that parents must remain loud, persistent, and unapologetic in their advocacy, as their voices are often the only ones standing up for children who cannot speak for themselves. The conversation ends with a rallying cry for systemic change, urging educators, policymakers, and communities to listen, act, and build a future where every child—especially neurodivergent ones—can learn safely and with dignity.