In this blog I will discuss about the challenges faced by us in integrating Simi in a School set up. After imparting strenuous therapies for four months the therapist left Guwahati due to her personal issues. With no options left, we continued with the same therapies for around one year and further decided to enrol Simi in a formal school. In her academic part, my wife (Mrs Padmaja) was fully involved with her. So, this blog was written taking clue from my wife. Padmaja developed unique designed to train Simi learn and excel in her academic front.

1. Integrating Simi in School Setup: During those years in early 2003 there was very little awareness about ASD. In northeast even many doctors were not aware about Autism. We discussed with many schools in the vicinity of Guwahati and found it very difficult to accommodate her in so called Modern School as they were not able to understand our problem and showed their inability to accept Simi. Ultimately, Simi got admitted in Nursery in a newly opened school close to our house.

2. Challenges in School: Since the School was opened in that year, only two students admitted in Nursery. That was a blessing in disguise for Simi. It was difficult to make Simi sit in the classroom, so, initially the teacher used to keep the door closed. Although the teacher was not a trained special educator, but she managed Simi efficiently with the clues given by her mother. Padmaja used to discuss with the teacher every day about the Class work & homework as Simi was non-communicative at that time. With dedicated efforts of Padmaja & the teachers, Simi abled to practise handwriting by writing A, B, C etc in notebook in separate pages. Previously, Simi used to write A-Z in one page whenever instructed to practice handwriting.

3. Concept of Holidays: Simi had a habit of going to school every day. Even in holidays she used to insist repeatedly to go to School wearing her uniform. So, I took her to school in holidays in two three occasions to show her the school in locked condition which made her understand about the concept of holidays. Further, we also marked the Calendar with red cross for holidays and used green tick for working days which also developed her concept of calendar.

4. Social Stigma: Simi was deprived of attending any reputed School in those days in Guwahati due to ASD which largely affected her including us. She was fond of big schools, interested to go by school bus etc. but we always found ourselves helpless and had to supress her desire that affected us both mentally and sometimes we got humiliated in social gatherings.

We both parents always try to be involved in her both therapies and academic front which acted as a catalyst in overall development of Simi. From our experience we strongly feel the involvement of all family members, especially both parent which is essential for effectiveness of any therapy for overall development of a neuro divergent. Only therapy will not do any wonders.


(To be continued)

Author Srinibash Mishra