Things I Have Learnt from Working with Children with Autism
“Autism is like a rainbow. It has a bright side and a darker side. But every shade is important and beautiful” - Rosie Tennant Doran
Autism spectrum disorder or ASD refers to a broad range of conditions used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by challenges with communication, social skills and often demonstrate restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviours.
Individuals with autism have so much to offer if we take the time to look beyond their diagnosis. Having worked with children with autism I have learned so much from them. Every child is brilliant and unique in their own way and each child teaches you a unique lesson that not only helps you grow in as professional but also as a person.
Here I try to summarize what I learned from my journey in working with children with autism:
Accepting the differences
When I first began working with children with autism, I honestly struggled in understanding them and was focussing on how could I support them better. We live in a world governed by societal norms and expectations. Everything needs to be done in a particular way that often doesn’t work for these children. The more time I spent with them with the more I realized how important it is to accept our differences and find a way to work through them. We need to learn to accept and celebrate our differences. Focus on the ability not the disability.
“I am different, not less” -Dr. Temple Grandin
Patience is the key
Each child learns at his/her own pace, don’t rush them, have patience. Each skill is broken down into smaller and achievable steps. They conquer each step in their own time, once they finally get it, the joy and rewards are irreplaceable.
“I might hit developmental and societal milestones in a different order than my peers, but I am able to accomplish these small victories on my own time”. - Haley Moss
Communication comes in many forms
Communicating and connecting with a child with autism can be challenging but sometimes you don’t need words to communicate. You communicate by the way you look at the child, by tone of your voice, your body language and also by the way you touch. Each child is unique and so is their way of communicating. A child communicates with you even if he or she never speaks, we just need to learn their language of expression. When you finally begin to be able to communicate with each other, it’s amazing how much that relationship grows. Remember actions speak louder than words.
Happiness can be expressed in different ways
Happiness can be expressed in so many ways- jumping, clapping, drawing, flapping and many other ways. Each child I worked with had a different and unique way of showing how happy they were and their smiles were contagious. A smile from a child has the power to brighten up your day. Each child taught me different ways of expressing feelings and how to love unconditionally.
Celebrate small victories
Children never fail to surprise you with their smallest achievement. Never underestimate their potential. They can do so much. They will always rise up to your challenge. A little progress each day adds up to bigger results. Their smiles and eye contact even for a few seconds are huge victories.
“The most interesting people you’ll find are ones that don’t fit into your average cardboard box. They’ll make what they need, they’ll make their own boxes.” -Dr. Temple Grandin
Flexible and unique learning approach
Each child has his/her own way of completing each task and they can teach you creative ways in approaching new problems. We are familiar with the phase ‘no one size fits all’, something that worked today may not work tomorrow. You learn to become more flexible and open to creative ways of approaching a difficult task. Be persistent, try new approaches and reflect back on what works the best. While there are many challenges faced by children with autism, it is also important to remember each of them have unique strengths as well.
It was an honour to be able to learn every day from children who experience the world differently. Every day was a new lesson, a new approach to life. They taught me how to truly appreciate life’s little moments and value of unconditional love.
“Autism offers a chance for us to glimpse an awe-filled vision of the world that might otherwise pass us by.” – Dr. Colin Zimbleman.
Sanjina Bose
Beautifully written :)
ReplyDeleteI had goosebumps throughout!