Helping young people with autism to reach higher!

Published: July 27th, 2022

Autism is a much misunderstood area of disability. People with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) can be – and quite often are – highly intelligent; it’s even been speculated that the great Albert Einstein was autistic.

That being said, the word ‘autistic’ still carries with it unwanted and unnecessary negative connotations, that can – and still do – hinder a child’s access to the education they need and deserve.

As a former headteacher, SENCO manager and teacher of children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND), the system of placing any child in a box outside of ‘normality’ bothers me immensely.

After all, what is normal? Is it having average intelligence? Is it doing things that the majority do?

Individual differences must be acknowledged and celebrated. People who are different may have strengths that are difficult to identify. Children who do not easily ‘fit in’ must not be allowed to fail because education cannot adapt to them. What matters is that all children – including those with ASC – are enabled to find an outlet for their unique abilities and ways of thinking. Normality is for everyone! We all fit in!

I have dedicated the last 40 years of my life to education – as both teacher and author – and am passionate about doing everything I can to maximise learning potential across all of our young people and, wherever possible, remove the ‘dis’ from disability.
This includes me writing my latest series of Parental Guide Books, which includes a publication dedicated solely to SEND provision.
‘Support Your Child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities’ is a comprehensive and practical guide through the often perplexing world of special needs education here in the UK.
Presented in plain, simple English with accompanying illustrations, it sets out the educational support systems in place for children with SEND, highlights what they’re learning at school and even acts as a useful resource for home education whether that be full-time or extra-curricular, to help your child realise their maximum potential.
https://sylviaedwardsauthor.co.uk/publications/support-your-child-with-special-educational-needs-and-disabilities-a-guide-for-parents/
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