A Father’s Journey with Autism- Chapter 20

In this blog, I will shed light upon the passing of 10th Board Examination under CBSE by Simi.

As mentioned earlier, Simi faced obstacles in pursuing her passion for Mathematics due to her enrolment in an integrated school setup. Another challenge arose from the medium of education being Hindi, whereas we opted for an exemption from Hindi and substituted it with Music. Consequently, for her 10th Board Examination, Simi was enrolled in English, Social Studies, Home Science, Computer Science, and Music.

The Style of Teaching:

Due to her inherent disability, Simi struggled with conceptual clarity in any subject. Even today, she finds it challenging to write 15-20 lines about herself. However, Simi possesses an exceptional ability to memorize information. Recognizing this strength, her mother devised a unique teaching method aimed at fostering rote memory. This approach involved feeding Simi various probable questions and answers, enabling her to excel in memorization despite her difficulties with conceptual understanding.

Following process adopted by Padmaja to taught Simi:

1. In each subject, Simi’s mother selected crucial chapters known for frequently appearing in exams based on the trends of the past 5-6 years. These chapters were carefully chosen to focus on areas where questions were expected to arise, maximizing Simi’s memorization efforts, and enhancing her chances of success despite her conceptual challenges.
2. After selecting the subjects, Simi’s mother meticulously crafted a set of probable questions based on the patterns observed in the last 5-6 years’ examinations including the important questions provided by the teachers in the class. These questions were tailored to cover the key topics and concepts expected to appear in the exams.
3. Following the selection of subjects and the framing of probable questions, Simi’s mother proceeded to prepare the most suitable answers in a simplified manner. The aim was to ensure that the answers were presented in a format that would not pose difficulty for Simi to memorize. By breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible pieces of information, Simi could effectively commit the material to memory, enabling her to perform well in her exams.
4. The answers, once prepared, were further broken down into small sentences for Simi’s ease of memorization. Subsequently, the first letter of each sentence was carefully selected to create a combination of 5-6 letters. This method allowed for the creation of mnemonic devices, aiding Simi in recalling the answers during examinations through a structured and manageable approach.

One example of such selection is given below:

Question: What are the essential nutrients required for a balanced diet?
Answer: The essential nutrients required for a balanced diet include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Carbohydrates provide energy, proteins are necessary for growth and repair of tissues, fats serve as a concentrated source of energy and aid in nutrient absorption, vitamins and minerals are essential for various bodily functions, and water is crucial for hydration and regulation of body temperature.

The above answer was meticulously broken down into smaller, more manageable sentences for Simi’s memorization:
a. The essential nutrients required for a balanced diet include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.
b. Carbohydrates provide energy.
c. Proteins are necessary for growth and repair of tissues.
d. Fats serve as a concentrated source of energy and aid in nutrient absorption.
e. Vitamins and minerals are essential for various bodily functions.
f. Water is crucial for hydration and regulation of body temperature.

A practical exercise done by Simi is given at Picture-1

Simi’s mother understood that this process required patience and dedication. Despite the challenges, she invested considerable effort in helping Simi memorize many such questions across various subjects. She used to break down complex information into simpler components point wise, often writes each line of the answer in different colours, putting different pictures symbolizing each line making it easier for Simi to learn and retain.
With immense dedication and effort from both Simi and her mother, Simi emerged triumphant in her 10th CBSE Board examination, securing a remarkable CGPA of 9.4. Her outstanding performance not only highlighted her own perseverance but also reflected Padmaja’s unwavering support. Simi’s achievement of topping her school within the inclusive segment is a testament to their collaborative efforts and determination. Furthermore, the invaluable support and cooperation extended by all the teachers played a pivotal role in shaping her success.

In conclusion, Simi’s journey to passing her 10th Board Examination under CBSE showcases the power of dedication and innovative teaching methods. Despite facing obstacles due to her disability, Simi’s mother’s unwavering support and inventive approach to learning enabled her to excel. Through patience and perseverance, they demonstrated that with the right support, any challenge can be overcome.
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To be continued………………..


Author
Srinibash Mishra