I Am, school for Autism, opens in Alberton
Currently, too many children are left behind by being placed in inadequate facilities, where their progress is limited.
The understanding of autism is relatively new and, to a large degree, the condition remains a mystery.
Schools specialising in autism are few and far between and, as a result, are unable to cope with the volume of new cases reported.
Because autistic children think, learn and socialise differently from other children, they need more individual attention and care in a safe environment.
Autistic children each display different symptoms and abilities and, thus, individual attention is required to achieve maximum benefit. This demand for individualised care results in a high cost of education.
Further complicating the issue is that the number of schools is inadequate, especially in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg.
Currently, too many children are left behind by being placed in inadequate facilities, where their progress is limited. The goal is to establish an affordable school in the south, where autistic children can be assisted to reach their full potential.
Goals:
“Our goal is not just to create access to education, but rather to create the best possible intervention we can for the children in our area,” said Bronwyn Sharrock, one of the founders of the school.
”We are starting small and focusing on early childhood development (ECD), ages three to six, with the intention to grow organically into the higher phases.”
The co-founder, Celeste Viljoen, added: “We are partnering with experts in both education and autism intervention.
”We are drawing resources from local partners and abroad. The bottom line is that our kids deserve the opportunity to be everything they can and we don’t want the lack of resources to hold them back.
“During the course of 2015 we approached schools in the area to open an autistic class, but none were in a position to do so; it was then that we realised that the only way forward was to open our own school.
”Our dream is to create a safe environment, where autistic children can learn and strive. By combining expertise and passion we want to help our children to become the best they can be.”
About the School:
The school is called “I Am”, because there are so many limitations imposed on autistic children by their disorder and by society, and the founders want them and their communities to understand that they can define their own future.
There is a saying that “I am” are the two most powerful words, because what you choose to put after them defines your reality.
Celeste and Bronwyn explained that they are doing this because they want all their pupils to live a full life.
“We want them to define their own future on their own terms, not on the terms of whatever services happen to be in our area,” they explained.
Core Philosophies:
Individualised/Multi-Model Approach:
Celeste explained that they do not intend to use a singular methodology or approach to education, communication or therapy.
“We will draw on as many approaches as we possibly can and select the most appropriate avenues for each child by means of a consultative and individualised IEP process,” she said.
”The individual education plan (IEP) is compiled every term and involves all role players, including therapists, teachers and parents.
”The meeting progress is evaluated and goals are set for the next period. Structured feedback sessions form a critical part of this approach, so that parents are able to support all interventions at home.
Holistic Approach:
“We believe that a child with autism in a family impacts on each member in that family, therefore interventions should not be limited to the child, but rather include support for the parents and siblings, as well as a social curriculum.”
“We are in the process of drawing on curricula from the UK, the US and local schools (supported by Autism South Africa). Following the core philosophy of combining the best of multiple approaches, the curriculum will be adjusted based on the evidence collected over time,” Bronwyn said.
“Therapy is also very important for autistic children and, therefore, we want to create a space for therapy to be conducted in the school.
”It is important to note that the therapists will bill for individual therapy separately.
”Many parents struggle with the logistics of running around between school, speech therapy, occupational therapy and ABA. Our ideal space would enable everything to be done on our site, which will assist in reducing stress for parents.”
There are additional extra-murals that are common in neuro-typical schools, but are usually absent from autism schools, and the aim is to start introducing these extra-murals as part of school.
Selection Process:
Autism results in a large variety of atypical behaviours and any one school can focus only on a specific portion of the spectrum. As a result, the selection process is critical in order to ensure that the children who attend the school match the selected treatment range.
A panel of experts, including a neurological paediatrician and an occupational therapist will make the final recommendation on the decision to admit a child to the I Am school.
Support from associations:
The I Am school has already met and gained support from a number of organisations. These include Autism South Africa, the Ernie Els Foundation and the Johannesburg Hospital School (GDE-nominated centre of excellence). Support includes the sharing of content, knowledge, training and resources.
For any questions, or for more information please about the I Am School, contact Bronwyn Sharrock or Celeste Viljoen on 072 756 5005 or 083 964 2020.
