"Training in autism"

Recently, my child had their appendix removed at Albany Health Campus. Everything about their care pre and post op was ok. Some staff were fantastic with my child, some were just kind of robotic in their care.

It was an incident that happened early the following day that is of concern. My child, teenager ASD/ADHD loves to scare people. That morning we had come out of their room because my child wanted to go for a walk. As we came out I was talking to their nurse at the door, I was facing away from the incident, I believe the nurse was facing towards. My child snuck up behind a staff member who it seemed squealed and turned around and slapped their face.

My child totally does need to know not to be doing that to people they don't know.

The staff member was super apologetic. At first I just thought they were apologising for squealing at my child. I was like oh it's ok.

When we got to the kitchen my child got an apple juice from the fridge. We went back to the room and my child sat on their bed with the apple juice on their cheek. That's when I asked them about it and they said the staff member hit them.

I requested a social worker to go over it all, not available on that day. I asked for someone who knows about autism. Nobody available.

I feel there totally should be more done. More training in autism, reactions, support of the family.

Documentation. Incident reports. It seemed very much like they were happy to sweep it under the carpet.

As soon as my child was given the all clear and allowed to go home. I just wanted to get them home.