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Hi all - I have been trying to get advice and help regarding a issue I have had with probation but it is becoming a real issue and what action I can't take.
I am currently with Probation for a period of time and I have to complete a very small number of hours. I I also have Autism, which is an issue regarding quite a lot that has happened and is noted in the court documents which they had prior to me going to probation.
There have been points in this where I felt bullied by the first probation officer I had, she never took into consideration that I had Autism and she gave me a formal warning early on for "bad attitude", it was a joke. She just thought they way I was communicating was bad attitude. There has never been any discussion in what adjustments I maybe need either. We discussed early on how my hours would be needed to complete, they said I would be unable to complete the hours in a charity shop and said it would be in outdoor work in groups. I said at the very beginning that this wasn't for me as my Autism restricts me for working in groups and the time of these activities made it just as bad as it would mean me travelling at peak times in one of the busiest cities in the UK. I posted this elsewhere on a disability forum and they said that as soon as as I said this to the probation officer, it should have been stopped in its tracks and accepted - it wasn't and it continued to be pushed. I started with Probation in September and the court order was only sent back in December.
I've had a new probation officer since and within this time it still continued to push these "unpaid work activities" and that included a video call with one of the people who runs the activities. Let's call him John (I don't know his name).
During this video call all the same stuff was repeated that I already knew and I repeated to him that I do not think these activities was suitable for someone with Autism. It then goes full circle of the same information - to a point where I once again repeat that I have Autism and this isn't suitable and he then responds with "I now believe you're making excuses" in response to my disability.
This comment made me angry because I have every reason to say that this is unsuitable and they have the evidence. I have made a complaint to the probation service and they have admitted what has happened and this was backed up by the probation officer who was there when the video call happened.
I am at the point of real anger with the probation service not in terms of what was said in terms of my disability, but the whole period I have been there and how I have been dealt with. I am perhaps angrier with the first probation officer than I am with the comments that was said.
Bit I am now at the point of taking legal action in terms of discrimination and Equality Act, but I am finding it hard to know the best routes. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
I am currently with Probation for a period of time and I have to complete a very small number of hours. I I also have Autism, which is an issue regarding quite a lot that has happened and is noted in the court documents which they had prior to me going to probation.
There have been points in this where I felt bullied by the first probation officer I had, she never took into consideration that I had Autism and she gave me a formal warning early on for "bad attitude", it was a joke. She just thought they way I was communicating was bad attitude. There has never been any discussion in what adjustments I maybe need either. We discussed early on how my hours would be needed to complete, they said I would be unable to complete the hours in a charity shop and said it would be in outdoor work in groups. I said at the very beginning that this wasn't for me as my Autism restricts me for working in groups and the time of these activities made it just as bad as it would mean me travelling at peak times in one of the busiest cities in the UK. I posted this elsewhere on a disability forum and they said that as soon as as I said this to the probation officer, it should have been stopped in its tracks and accepted - it wasn't and it continued to be pushed. I started with Probation in September and the court order was only sent back in December.
I've had a new probation officer since and within this time it still continued to push these "unpaid work activities" and that included a video call with one of the people who runs the activities. Let's call him John (I don't know his name).
During this video call all the same stuff was repeated that I already knew and I repeated to him that I do not think these activities was suitable for someone with Autism. It then goes full circle of the same information - to a point where I once again repeat that I have Autism and this isn't suitable and he then responds with "I now believe you're making excuses" in response to my disability.
This comment made me angry because I have every reason to say that this is unsuitable and they have the evidence. I have made a complaint to the probation service and they have admitted what has happened and this was backed up by the probation officer who was there when the video call happened.
I am at the point of real anger with the probation service not in terms of what was said in terms of my disability, but the whole period I have been there and how I have been dealt with. I am perhaps angrier with the first probation officer than I am with the comments that was said.
Bit I am now at the point of taking legal action in terms of discrimination and Equality Act, but I am finding it hard to know the best routes. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.