A Father’s Journey with Autism- Chapter 18

In this blog, I’ll discuss Simi’s challenges in inclusive education as a young girl. From adapting to a new school environment to navigating academic and social obstacles, her journey sheds light on the complexities of inclusion in education for neurodiverse students.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition, manifests differently in different individuals. For Simi, this means steering a world where sensory sensitivities may overwhelm her, social interactions can be perplexing, and communication may not unfold in conventional ways. These core aspects of autism shape her experiences from early childhood into adolescence, influencing her interactions with family, peers, and the broader community.

At home, we grappled with the complexities of understanding and supporting her unique needs. We faced challenges in deciphering her non-verbal cues, managing her sensory sensitivities, and adapting daily routines to accommodate her preferences and aversions. Despite our unwavering love and dedication, the strain of balancing her needs with those of other family members had taken its toll, leading to moments of frustration, exhaustion, and even guilt.

As she transitions into the educational realm, Simi encountered a myriad of hurdles within the schooling system. Despite being enrolled in an inclusive school environment that prioritized understanding and support for neurodiversity, the initial phase of her schooling posed significant challenges. Simi struggled to keep pace with the changing environment, hindered by challenges in focus, organization, and processing information. We enlisted a teacher from Simi’s school to serve as a home tutor, ensuring regular feedback and updates on Simi’s progress in her educational journey. After a few days, we noticed a positive change in Simi’s demeanour as she regained her confidence. Being permitted to engage in various school activities such as solo singing competitions and sports in an inclusive environment played a significant role in her transformation. Some teachers took a keen interest in Simi, offering support in both academics and extracurriculars. Simi’s home tutor provided extra care and explained her behavioural issues to other teachers and peers, catalysing positive changes in Simi’s demeanour and fostering a more supportive and understanding school environment.

A significant concern for us was the absence of mathematics classes beyond Class 7 in the inclusive school for special children. Even in Class 7, they treated math books as one grade lower. This deprived Simi of her passion for mathematics. Although we attempted to teach her at home, various factors hindered our success. The lack of structured math education in her school limited her opportunities to fully explore and develop her mathematical abilities.

[One incident vividly illustrates Simi’s passion for mathematics. During an examination in Agartala, she requested “a piece of paper” for rough work, but the teacher could not understand her symbolic language. Left without the necessary tools, she submitted a blank paper and received a zero. This experience shattered Simi’s confidence. When she didn’t encounter mathematics classes in the inclusive school during eighth grade, she internalized the belief that her previous zero resulted in deprivation. Even today, she asserts, “main math fail nehi hun.” This incident underscores the profound impact of miscommunication on a young student’s self-perception and academic journey.]

Another issue arose regarding the medium of education, as Simi had previously been taught in English medium schools. Her mother continued teaching her in English and assisted teachers in framing school test papers in English. To address this, we pursued an exemption for Simi from the Hindi subject through CBSE. With a recommendation from Sir Gangaram Hospital, authorized by CBSE for such exemptions, we successfully crossed this challenge.


Amidst these challenges, however, lies a resilient spirit and unwavering determination to thrive. Still miles to go…………………………..

To be continued….

Author

Srinibash Mishra