Well structured education for children with the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can make them live fulfilled life and be useful to the society, even though the disorder have an effect on learning
By Frank Adebayo
72-year-old Mary Temple Grandin, PhD is an American Professor of animal science at Colorado State University, who has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers on animal behavior and is a prominent proponent for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter.
The amazing thing about Grandin is the fact that she suffers from the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). But this life limiting disorder has not limited Grandin from receiving and enjoying education to the highest level. She graduated from Franklin Pierce College in 1970 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Psychology; a Master’s degree in Animal Science from Arizona State University in 1975, and a Doctoral degree in Animal Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1989.
Grandin had earlier been expelled at the age of 14 from high school for throwing a book at a schoolmate who had taunted her. Her mother later enrolled her at a private boarding school for children with behavioral problems. This was a life changing experience for her as she met William Carlock, a science teacher, who became her mentor and helped significantly toward building up her self-confidence.
When 15 years, Grandin spent a summer on a Arizona ranch and this became a formative experience toward her subsequent career interest.
Grandin was born with the ASD and enjoyed full education for a fulfilled life. Many will argued that this was possible because she live in an advanced economy, the United States. This is not really so.
Switch to another continent, a generation after Grandin was born.
9-year-old Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, lives in Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria, and at that young age has been internationally recognized and honoured as a talented artist.
Kanye’s works are exceptional as his emotions are fully reflected in them. This has brought him attention of the art world. In 2018, he was given the Flame of Peace International award for outstanding work in art by the Arch-Duke and Arch-Duchess of Austria in Vienna, this made him the youngest awardee ever. He was also made a fellow – the youngest one ever – of the Association. And this year, he won the Indomie Independence Day Award (IIDA) for outstanding children in Nigeria in the Social Bravery category for using his work to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder and help autistic children.
Kanye is autistic, lives in Nigeria and have a whole full life cuts out for himself, even at that young age and his ‘disorder’. All thanks to his parents, who took the bull by the horns and mapped out a positive impactful education for him at his early age.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes ASD as a group of complex “developmental disorders and conditions that emerge in early childhood and, in most cases, persist throughout the lifespan and are marked by the presence of impaired development in social interaction and communication and a restricted repertoire of activity and interest, with or without accompanying intellectual and language disabilities; and that manifestations of the disorder vary greatly in terms of combinations and levels of severity of symptoms.”
Major drawbacks in making children with ASD have qualitative education and lifestyles in Nigeria are the high level of ignorance and stigma attached to the disorder by lot of people.
Except for a few determined parents, dedicated professionals and cheerful volunteers, there is virtually no help coming from the government.
Dotun Akande, is one of the Nigerian ‘warriors’ in the battle to make autistic children have impactful education in the country. Akande, the founder of the Patrick Speech and Language centre – the first autism centre in Nigeria, had her son diagnosed of ASD about nine years ago when it was rare to diagnose in Nigeria.
The Patrick Centre started in 2006 with three children and since then has catered for over 500 children with special needs.
Akande’s belief is that the Nigerian schools are not structured to cater for children with special needs like ASD.
Helen Obiageli Oshikoya, is the founder of Nobelova Gradani, an IBCCES Certified Training Partner, that has since 2012 tried to address the problem of societal indifference to ASD with initiatives that largely aimed at creating awareness at schools, especially elementary ones; screening of at-risk children and training of middle-level intervention service providers.
There is no doubt ASD affect learning in so many ways.
- Children with autism may be able to focus acutely on details but may lack the ability to pull back and see the big picture.
- ASD might also affect language development and may cause speech delays. These are often the first sign that a child may have autism. However, early intervention that takes into account a child’s interests is one of the most effective ways to address language development issues.
- ASD might also make children struggle with nonverbal communication with simple actions like eye contact and gestures being difficult to perform. But these skills can be developed before verbal language issues are addressed. For some autistic children, sign language may work as an alternative to verbalization.
- Children with ASD usually have narrow interests. They may be both focused and exceptionally skilled in certain areas such as Mathematics, Music and Fine Arts, but this narrow range of interests might limit them in engaging in other areas of learning. They tend to engage in repetitive play or motions or question asking, sometimes to the annoyance of others. However, it is possible to use these narrow interests as a jumping off point for a variety of learning opportunities.
- Paying attention can be a challenge for children with autism. They can be easily distracted by stimulants that barely even register for people who are not autistic. These distractions can be huge or small ranging from a button on a dress to bright lights to sounds and more. They may also find it difficult to focus on information that is outside their range of interest.
Even though these limiting factors might affect learning in children with ASD, teachers and parents, with better understanding of these factors can help children with ASD get along with their education.
Grandin, who have had the privilege of outstanding teachers and a supportive mother offer some tips on how good teachers can help out. These ‘teachers’ can be professional ones, care-givers, instructors or parents.
“I was able to overcome autism because I had good teachers. At age 2 1/2 I was placed in a structured nursery school with experienced teachers. From an early age I was taught to have good manners and to behave at the dinner table. Children with autism need to have a structured day, and teachers who know how to be firm but gentle,” Grandin said.
“My mother hired a nanny who spent three to four hours a day playing games with me and my sister. She taught ‘turn taking’ during play activities. When we made a snowman, she had me roll the bottom ball; and then my sister had to make the next part.
“At mealtimes, every-body ate together; and I was not allowed to do any “stims.” The only time I was allowed to revert back to autistic behavior was during a one-hour rest period after lunch. The combination of the nursery school, speech therapy, play activities, and “miss manners” meals added up to 40 hours a week, where my brain was kept connected to the world.
“Many people with autism are visual thinkers. I think in pictures. I do not think in language. All my thoughts are like videotapes running in my imagination. Pictures are my first language, and words are my second language. Nouns were the easiest words to learn because I could make a picture in my mind of the word.
“To learn words like “up” or “down,” the teacher should demonstrate them to the child. For example, take a toy airplane and say “up” as you make the airplane takeoff from a desk. Some children will learn better if cards with the words “up” and “down” are attached to the toy airplane. The “up” card is attached when the plane takes off. The “down” card is attached when it lands.”
