When Katie's* son, Aiden* was excluded from several mainstream schools, she could see the trajectory of his life plummeting downwards.
"He went from a bright, happy kid with lots of friends to a sad, hurt, rejected, disengaged, struggling teenager," says Katie.
"Neurodivergence is not something that is celebrated or supported at mainstream schools."
As a parent, there's nothing more heartbreaking than watching your child struggle. And it can be especially isolating when society, as a rule, has little patience for challenging teens.
"School refusal and avoidance, and school suspensions are at an all-time high. This leads to disengagement from school and potentially long-term, life altering consequences," Katie says.
Watch: Does social media negatively impact teen mental health? Article continues after the video.
Jenny* had a similar experience with her son, Tom*. While her daughter thrived at the local public school, her son struggled to learn, and was subsequently bullied.
"This saw him retaliate, with the outcome being he was suspended regularly," says Jenny.