Are WE the problem?
How much do you know about Autism? Not much I suppose. Neither did I until I decided to design a School for Autistic Students for my design thesis. I have been reading up some on this topic and the more I find out, the more I am convicted that the notion of a "special school" for autistic students is one that must be CHALLENGED very seriously.
The current notion that autistic people are "special" and hence need to be treated "specially" and have their own "special place" presupposes that anyone who is different should be segregated, and treated differently. We put them in "special schools", give them "special education" and treat them "specially" so that in many ways, we don't have to deal with them. Let the professionals handle them, we say. Put them in a school where they can learn at their own pace so that we too can learn at our own pace and not be bothered by them. While we are at it, let's make them feel so "special" that they will never forget how "special" they are.
Now hold on a minute. I am not saying that we deny their medical condition or pretend that they are the same as the rest of us and hence treat them indifferently. But perhaps as a community, in our enthusiasm (or lack of) to help them, we have decided that the best way to do that would be to contain them in specialised institutions who are trained to deal with them.
Hear me out. WHAT IF, we take it as our responsibility as a humane community, to learn how to live with them? WHAT IF, we learn how to go to school with them, to run in a race with them, to celebrate National Day, Teacher's Day and even Racial Harmony Day with them? WHAT IF, we could learn to appreciate how brilliant some of them could be at mathematics when we attend the same lessons as them? WHAT IF we still learn to help and encourage and make them part of our lives even though they have nothing to offer us in terms of brilliance?
Very often, it is easier to see someone different as inferior, troublesome or a problem. Sometimes, I think WE are the problem. We certainly can't change how they are. How about starting to change how WE are? Autism isn't the problem. Our inability to cope with it is. Let's all learn to do better.
2 comments:
Autism is a condition. It varies in degrees. Basically they may not be sociable. My debate on this is that They should be placed in e society and not outside. Really they need extra additional assistance and coaching depending on the degree of autism.
But not special treatment. Outside meaning Special schools. I'm not against special edu but I feel there needs to be a greater overarching system which integrates the special and normal edu together. Meaning same schools, some similar modules.
And their own modules.
My thinking is- Put a baby eagle with the chickens, it will be behave like one. Put the baby eagle with eagles, it will be one!
We can unleash potentials. Peer learning can be powerful. We can raise awareness, educate and redefine culture. A culture which is inclusive rather than exculsive.
I have a HEART FOR THEM...
Miss Practical:
I think sometimes people forget that in order to cater to these special creations of God, We who are educators have to be trained to be able to spot their strengths and weaknesses.
My kindergarten sch has both "normal" children and special needs children.
The social developmental environment we have set up for the children is great, I think. But I and my colleges face alot of fustrations in helping these special children to help themselves.
We face 3 problems:
1) Parents who can't accept that they have such a child and are not willing to sit down with us to come up with a supportive environment.
2) The lack of communication with a specialist who can educate us on the uniqueness of each child. ( meeting up with one such specialist cost a parent $100 an hr just for him to observe how the child is responding to our environment.)
3)The complexity of the need. Autism is a ( how to put it???) family name. and under the family there are many family members with different features. and some children have more then 1 family feature in them. and some features dont exhibit till the child is too old for help?
There is a need for special schools. Cos our educational system is not ready to cater to their educational and money needs. At least in a special sch you have a inhouse specialist who can pinpoint and apply proper educational practices. These children do need special treatment.
If the goverment is not even "ready" to support the cost of training and developing pre sch centres. and had to "let it go" to the private sector to manage. Is the goverment ready to integrate special needs???
I think We who have a heart for the future generation should really push the government to take a good hard look at the educational system. And We recommend feasible steps for changes to accomplish the heart felt needs we have for them.
1st step could be lowering the burden of the costs of seeking specialists.
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