Winnipeg woman beaten by 16-year-old son with autism says she can no longer care for him

A Winnipeg woman says she's no longer able to care for her 16-year-old son, who has autism, because of his violence toward her.

She wants to surrenderguardianship toWinnipeg Child and Family Services but the agency says he needs to stay with her.

CBC News is not identifying the woman or her son to protect their privacy. We've given her the pseudonym of Olivia and her son the pseudonym of Noah.

Noah has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and suffers from anxiety.

"He is strong. He can throw me. That's a bad day, Bruises. Lots of bruises, and just anger.I think I've lost consciousness one time," Olivia said.

"I can't get through to him. Like, I look at him and I try to calm him, and it's just he's not even himself."

Olivia said there have been numerous instances when she's locked him out of the house and called police after he's beaten her.

Police have been able to calmhim down, she says, but in a few days, he'd act violently again. Officershave asked her to file a formal complaint, but she refused.

Noah is nearly six feet tall. He's talented, smart and can come across as a "know-it-all," his mother said. He has been home-schooled all his life.

"We would play games, read books. He loves news. Summertime is usually road trips even two to three weeks at a time," she said.

No other means of expression

Olivia said her son was apprehended by Winnipeg's Family and Child Services last December, when a pediatrician notified CFS after hearing about Noah's violence.

Noah was placed into the agency's Emergency Placement Resource program where he was temporarily housed at shelters and hospitals. But Olivia said on June 15, a court ordered Noah to live with her permanently a decision she said is not realistic.

WATCH |Olivia shares challenges of living with her son:

Beaten by 16-year-old son with autism

4 years ago

Duration 1:48

A Winnipeg woman says she's no longer able to care for her 16-year-old son, who has autism, because of his violence toward her.

She's no longer able to manage his behaviour and is seeking to voluntarily surrender her guardianship, she said.

"I just don't know that I could ever feel safe," she said.

Dr. Jennifer Frain, a clinical psychologist and the executive director of New Directions an organization dedicated to providing services for people with disabilitiessaid violence from people with autismresults from lacking other means to express themselves.

"Autism is sensory and behavioural. The world is not processed in the same way as for other folks," Frain said.

She said when people living with autismdon't have ways to manage their frustration, discomfort or agitation, they express themselves physically.

"It's not violence in the way that we understand violence. It's more like they don't have other ways to manage,"said Frain.

I believe there can be collaborative solutions that don't include leaving it up to the parent who's already in active burnout.- Angela Taylor, Inspire Community Outreach

She doesn't thinkNoah should go back to living with his mom.

"I don't know why the judge made that plan, but it's not a good one and it will unravel really quickly," she said.

Frain saida long-term solution needs to be put in place for Noah,including aspecialized placement, such as a group home, with staff trained to work with people with disabilities.Staff could also workwith his mom to ensure they have a healthy and strong relationship.

Olivia said the court order also asked her to contact Youth Mobile Crisis Services, CFS and police immediately should a physical assault happen. But Olivia said there have been times when her son would prevent her from using her phone, making it impossible to call anyone.

"The violence just keeps escalating. He punches and he kicks. And he's really strong. I can't defend myself, and if I do defend myself, it enrages him more," she said.

Manitoba's Department of Child and Family Services said it can't comment on the specific case due to confidentiality.

"The goal of child welfare agencies [is] to work with families to provide support and [ensure] the best interests of the child," the department said in an emailedstatement to CBC News.

If a child is violent and the parent has been assaulted or is in danger, an agency will work with police to assess and provide appropriate intervention in the family, the department spokesperson said.

Ran away from shelters,hospitals

Olivia said since Noah was placed in the Emergency Placement Resource program in December, he ran away from shelters and hospitals about a dozen times.

Police were called in, and searches were escalated because he's considered a vulnerable person.

"I have sobbed and cried, worried that he wasdead," said Olivia.

"Any parent out there who's had a missing child, I think they'll know exactly how I feel. It's just absolute terror, combined with sadness that is immeasurable."

At times, Noah would run home, back to Olivia's house, travelling more than 10 kilometres by foot, she said.

"I think the challenge for a lot of children with autism might be moving into another home," said James Kelm, advocacy co-ordinator at Inclusion Winnipeg.

"There's new people, new places, and often a young person with autism would want things to stay the same, and it's challenging for there to be changes."

The Department of Families said the emergency placement program is only used when it is unsafe for a child to remain where they are residing and no other placement options are available.

Daphne Penrose, the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth, said she can't comment specifically on Olivia and Noah'scase, but said an emergency placement resourceis typically not appropriate for children with disabilities.

Specialized placementslacking

Frain and Penrose believe a child like Noah should be put into a specialized placement, where he can have access to trained professionals and services.

"Pivoting toward specialized placements is the most appropriate thing to do when dealing with any type of child with a significantly high need and where their self-regulation can become quite aggressive," Penrose said.

Frain said a regular foster care placement wouldn't suit Noah, because the family adopting might not be equipped with resources to manage his feelingsand responses.

"It's really about finding a team that can work with the family and provide residential support for the young man, as the parents are not able to manage his behaviour any more, and that's absolutely no fault of their own that's a reality," Frain said.

Butspecialized placements, which are individually customized, are hard to come by.

"In the CFS system we don't have a lot of extra resources or extra space," she said.

"It's oftentimes that I need to develop or define a [placement]," Frain said. "But there's often a waiting list for those kinds of specialized beds, and they're more expensive than a regular foster home."

Frain said New Directions has opened four homes for children with autism, who were languishing in the shelter system. Those homes remain full today, as the children mature into adulthood.

Crisis management not enough

Angela Taylor, CEO of Inspire Community Outreach,saysChild and Family Services resources in CFS are solely focused on crisis management, not problem-solving.

"If the child is in a state of crisis, then we can call in the police, mobile crisis, different excellent resources like that, and unfortunately it's not enough," said Taylor, whose organization provides education on disabilities for families, clinicians and service providers like CFS.

"It's not adapting the environment to that unique child."

I love him dearly.. I would die for this child if his life could just be made better. But I'm also realistic.- 'Olivia'

That also means families that include children with autism and complex needs have a much higher likelihood of experiencing separation,said Taylor, whogrew up with disabilities and is raising a child with autism.

She said it's concerning to hear Noah will remain livingwith his mom, especially whenshe feels unsafe.

"When the system is taxed the way it is, perhaps that's the best solution that they understand,but I believe there can be collaborative solutions that don't include leaving it up to the parent who's already in active burnout."

Respite not enough, says mother

Since June 26, Noah has been staying at his mom's house. She said CFS staff fearthat if he was placed at a shelter and ran away, his safety would be jeopardized because of the heat.

Olivia was granted respite care for four hours a day two weeks ago, but said it doesn't help much.

"I'm exhausted," she said. "I'm old. I can't take this any more."

She said she's made it clear to CFSshe wants to surrender guardianship.

"I love him dearly. There's nothing I wouldn't do. I would die for this child if his life could just be made better. But I'm also realistic."