He is now "flourishing at another grammar school". Which goes to show that he CAN deal with life etc when appropriately helped. It is no different to helping a wheelchair user - why do so many people have such disgustingly ignorant attitudes? They need more 'help' than this child ever will.

michele, Greece,

Some people are just plain thick. Perhaps they should be given an easier paper to compensate for being born with less brain cells than average? This would make school children look more intelligent.
Why discriminate against those with less intelligence? I
ts not their fault.

Andy, London,

Karen, if (as you say) most people share Arthur's views, that is probably because they are common sense ones. However sympathetic we may be to the plight of intellectually disabled people, pandering to their needs at the expense of the normal majority may not be in the best interests of society.

Janet , Sydney, Australia

Arthur, Through personal experiecne, I know that your comments reflect the opinions of a fair number of individuals towards individuals wiht disabilities such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, but I must say am thoroughly disgusted by the ignorance and prejudice you display.

Karen, Hertfordshire,

If he cannot cope with bring in a different exam room how does his mother expect him to cope with the constantly changing environments at a grammar school?

Denise B, Oldbury, UK

So Arthur, what do you suggest exaclty we do with do with those children "who can't handle life"?
Of course life is not fair, especially for children who suffer from those disorders. But at least we can try to make it bearable for them and give them the same opportunities as everyone else.

Felicity, Windsor,

I'd just like to say thank you for all your comments, and can't beleive the support we have received.
Arthur everybody can handle life, but everybody handles life in a different way.

N, Grantham, Lincs

A £50 gift token? For breaking the law in relation to disability? This either shows the way society values disability or shows that this school is above the law.

Disgusting.

kim, London,

Arthur, God help us if we ever go back to the times when few allowances are made for anyone who doesn't fit the accepted norm. Are you seriously suggesting that a child with autism should be condemned to a life with no hope and no future regardless of ability. Your comments are terribly depressing.

Paula, Grantham, United Kingdom

What amazes me is that he wasn't awarded special needs status purely because of his academic ability, yet this article clearly shows he is deserving of that status.

Stephen, St. Ives, England

My sister in law was diagnosed terminal cancer last september so the clumsey social workers arrived to asked what was to become of her autistic teenage son. She walked in and introduced herself as if addressing a council meeting! This gentle polite child has the understanding of a toddler !!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

What about the kids who just get stressed in exam conditions? Should schools pander to their needs? What about kids who dont have parents who help them study, should schools pander to their needs? Where do you draw the line. We cant please everyone, and this country is going down hill trying to!

Arthur, Newcastle,

The school should be prosecuted for this,
and the level of compensation is a total insult, its typical of our education system with autistic children getting less and less.

Peter, Wrexham, Wales

You would think that it wouldn't have been that hard for this boy to take the entrance exam supervised at his own school in surroundings that he is familiar with. It is King's loss in failing to admit a bright candidate.

Mollie, UK,

I am glad to hear that the child is now flourishing at another school. I am dyspraxic and also suffer from slight ADD - yet with encouragement by my family and schools I now have a PhD and good career. Its been hard work at times, but rewarding. Good luck and keep fighting.

AB, London,

While perhaps it is true that "if you can't handle life you can't handle life", why force a 12 year old to learn that? He'll be more in control later in life, like many people with Autism or ADD are, so for now let him get on with it.

Neil, Norwich, UK

Presumably Arthur, by the time normal exams were due , this lad would have been used to new surroundings and it wouldn't have been such a problem , so i don't understand your reasoning . Other than that I'm gobsmacked by your attitude . Words fail me .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

They should have given him his own room to complete the exam, how hard would that have been to arrange?

Christian, Manchester,

Surely if you make allowances for the entrance exam, you also have to make allowances for normal exams, and then for jobs, and then for everything. I'm sorry, but if you cant handle life, you cant handle life. Show me where it says 'life is fair'.

Arthur, Newcastle,

What a shameful incident. It would appear that the boy was in fact lucky not to have been accepted by the first school.....

Steve, Argyll,