GALLERY: Brackendowns school goes an extra mile to teach autistic learners
After discovering that her child was diagnosed with autism, together with a partner Celeste Viljoen, established a centre to cater to autistic children.
AFTER discovering that her child was diagnosed with autism, together with a partner, Celeste Viljoen established a centre to cater for autistic children.
She established the school in 2016 and the school has grown ever since.
Autism is a neurobehavioural condition that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills.
According to Celeste, a director at I Am Centre for Autism in Brackendowns, the centre provides a solution for parents with autistic children.
Celeste said there were no schools nearby for children with this condition and parents needed to travel some distance to find schools that would cater for the children.
“Not only does the school cater for children with autism, but they also take in children that have similar challenges,” she said.
“The school believes that children, who feel accepted, loved and given the right stimulation and care, can achieve their highest level of development.”
I Am Centre for Autism has children as young as three-years-old, with the oldest being 11 and they hope to grow gradually on their intakes.
Empowering young minds
Due to their condition, the learners are said to find it hard to cope in a big and noisy classroom with lots of children.
However, the learners are taught in a way that suits them according to their condition.
The school, which takes up to six children in a classroom, gives special attention and mostly teaches the learners individually.
In one of many instances, the school once enrolled an autistic learner who preferred to be taught outside. He was eventually made comfortable in learning inside the classroom.
“The learner was scared of coming inside the school and was not comfortable in learning inside the classroom.
“To accommodate him, we then started teaching him outside but he eventually became comfortable in learning indoors,” she said.
The school encourages the children to be more social, improves their communication skills, and the children are also taught prerequisite skills.
“This prepares them prior to going to a mainstream and remedial school,” she explained.
Support you when needed
Celeste commented: “We understand that our children think and behave differently. We don’t try to compare them with other children.
“Our children also understand and feel safe around each other.
“The school also makes use of makaton sign language, a medium that is mostly used to communicate with some of the learners at the school.”
She also said at times the learners are taught to communicate using pictures and sign language, which allows the learners to express themselves.
Celeste also advised parents whose children are autistic to be supportive of their children.
“Parents should accept their children for who they are and not try to change them. They should also find means to help their children in the way that suits their thinking.
“The problem is, if parents try to push their children in a certain direction it only frustrates and puts the child under pressure,” she concluded.
I Am Centre for Autism also holds monthly support groups for parents and everyone is welcome.
For more information about the school contact Celeste Viljoen on 083 964 2020 or via email at admin@iamautismschool.co.za
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