A few days ago we told you the unfortunate scene that a group of mothers starred in celebrating through WhatsApp the school's decision to take a classmate out of their children's class with Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.
From Babies and More we wanted to know how is the school life of a child with this syndrome, your relationship with classmates and teachers. For this, we have spoken with a specialized psychologist and with the mothers of two children with Asperger. Their testimonies make it clear that there are still many today Myths to tear down.
We have spoken with the psychologist Carolina del Olmo, director and head of the Baobaob Early Care Center and clinical specialist in Autism Spectrum Disorder, early and post-early attention and other learning disorders and hyperactivity.
Carolina has given us her vision from a professional point of view, but we also wanted to know the testimonies of Martina and Sara, two mothers whose children are diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.
Is integration into the classroom of children with this type of autism spectrum disorder possible? How is the relationship of these students with their classmates and teachers?Integration in the classrooms of children with Asperger
Due to the characteristics of this syndrome, it may be common for children who suffer from it to be misdiagnosed with an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or other learning and behavior problems, and therefore actual diagnosis arrive late.
This was the case of Bruno, six, who was diagnosed with five even though his mother, Martina, suspected that something was happening to him a long time ago.
"It took years to diagnose my son and for a while the teachers said that what I had was a maturational delay. It was we who, thanks to the information available, moved from one specialist to another until the diagnosis was made. We lost a lot of time and at the beginning we weren't lucky enough to find good professionals "- Martina laments.
Sara, on the other hand, is aware of the luck she had with him early diagnosis of his son Diego, who is currently 11 years old but was diagnosed with only two. From that moment he could put himself in the hands of professionals and offer Diego stimulation from his stage in the nursery.
"Currently my son goes to a public school in Madrid and has support in speech therapy and therapeutic pedagogy where his main difficulty is working, which in his case is reading comprehension" - explains Sara.
Last Friday, Martina's son began his Infant stage in a new school and his mother is confident that teachers know how to guide and treat his son. And is that teacher training is key to the integration of children with Asperger, and this is what the psychologist Carolina del Olmo tells us.
"It is very important that the teacher is trained and has support and resources. They must be flexible, have a calm character and be able to see the world from the child's perspective""The normal thing is that the child with Asperger is enrolled in an ordinary school. These children have certain characteristics, which makes them have difficulties in some specific areas such as socialization and communication, with some stressful moments. But if they work in therapy and there is a solidarity consciousness in the school, integration into the classroom is possible "- explains Carolina del Olmo.
But Asperger syndrome remains a great unknown and the difficulties that these children present when it comes to relating to the environment, can be a great lack of empathy from those around him.
"There is a lot of ignorance and little empathy towards them" - the specialist confesses - "They are children with a lot of internal noise, with many things at once in their head, which sometimes disturbs them and that is when they need help and that is why it is important that teachers and the entire school environment are trained, prepared and informed. Once teachers understand the peculiarities of the Syndrome, they can understand behaviors in class and handle them in a proper and positive way for everyone "- says the psychologist.
The relationship between the student with Asperger and the rest of the classmates
The psychologist, Carolina del Olmo, explains that it is the work of the educational center and teachers inform the rest of the students and their families of the characteristics of the partner with Asperger. Only in this way can an environment of understanding, sensitivity and empathy be generated together that will make things work.
"Having a partner with Asperger syndrome in school should never harm the rest of the children in the class. They are children with an infinite number of positive things that have a lot to offer us, like any other child" - highlights the specialist.For little Bruno, who agglomerations overwhelm him, the first day of class turned out to be somewhat overwhelming. However, Martina tells us that her son is happy and excited about his new school:
"When I picked him up I was a little scared, but he told me that he had played with a child in the yard to fill a bottle of water. He seemed happy and lively and told me many things. That's a very good sign!" - He tells us hopefully.
And, like any mother whose son school starts for the first timeMartina is expectant, nervous and eager that everything goes well:
"I want my son to be integrated and have friends, but above all I want him to go to school to learn and to give his best "- he emphasizes.
Sara, for her part, explains that Diego's biggest limitation is the social relationships and although they are very grateful to the school and the help they give it, it misses that their son has the support and accompaniment of a teacher during the recess time:
"My son does not understand the double meanings when talking or joking that other colleagues spend. It is difficult for him to relate to his peers and, in that sense, he has a disadvantage "- he explains.
In addition to school, Sara takes her son to different extracurricular activities I eat music and tennis. He wants Diego to lead a life as normal as possible and face the daily situations that may arise.
Can children with Asperger have friends?
For Carolina del Olmo, the relationship between children with Asperger and other children It can be beautiful because it makes them discover different personalities, nuances and ways of being and educates them in respect and equality.
"It's the children that we they teach adults to accept others as they are and to respect. Children sometimes understand the stress moments of children with Asperger much better than adults, and are empathic with them. "
And this is corroborated by Sara, who is happy that her son has friends at school who understand you and respect him:
"His companions they understand him very well and he has met some lovely boys who know how to take him, understand him and contain him when he gets angry. In that sense we are very happy! "
Both family members and teachers agree that Friendly relationships with a child with Asperger's Syndrome can bring very positive things and from which we can all learn.
"Children with Asperger are exceptional. Their candor makes you skip tears of fun and tenderness at the same time, almost at the same time. Every day shared with them is a lesson learned" - summarizes the specialist, Carolina del Olmo ."To live with a child with Asperger is to live with a child with some different needs and a different perception of the world. That has made us realize that There are many ways to be and understand life and I think the same thing happened to his classmates and that's why they accepted him so well "- Sara tells us.
"As a mother, I feel very proud of my son. He has eager to please and please others. It is not true that the autistic do not have empathy: my son is a tremendously sensitive and empathetic child, although he does not always understand the world in which he lives and that makes him respond in a socially unacceptable way. But it is what he feels and so he knows "- he explains.
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In Babies and More Where were empathy and inclusion? Mothers celebrate the class change of a child with Asperger, Understanding the child with Asperger Syndrome, How does the world see a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder ?, They are not sick children, only different: International Asperger Syndrome Day
