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Word Matters
INTO THE DARK ALLEY
Making special education inclusive: A new and collaborative way forward
A forum on print piece
Into the Dark Alley: Welcome
The last ray of sun light is quickly vanishing into the horizon. You are not familiar with the street that you are on. The wind blows and as the last ray of sunlight exits, you find yourself being surrounded by an impending darkness. The chill is unsettling. You fumble in your bag for your handphone, but when you press the “ON” button, the red “no battery” warning flashes. In the confusion, you see someone running at you from a nearby alley. You don’t know this person, but he grabs you by your wrist and starts coercing you to follow him into the dark alley. What do you do?
Into the Dark Alley: Text
“Children with Autism encounter this scenario many times over in a day,” shared Tanya Elizabeth Catteral of Autism New Zealand (ANZ), who together with her colleague Joanne Marie Charman were here in Kuala Lumpur in June to share their experience with Dika College students. Both Catterall and Charman are parents to children who have been diagnosed with Autism. Together, they have worked extensively to help parents and stakeholders in New Zealand, to accord children with Autism their rights within society.
Pua Chee Ling, Chief Executive of Dika College sat down with Catterall and Charman, to share their thoughts on why and how special education must be made inclusive within the school, work and community system.
Not So Different
“While we are driven to believe that special needs children are different, in reality, they are just like any other child,”says Pua Chee Ling. "The truth is every child learns differently. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Some have more challenges with learning and thus, need more time, one-to-one attention and specialised therapy," added Pua.
“It is common for practitioners to align themselves to prescribed checklists when managing children with special needs,” said Charman lamenting that the fixation on checking boxes could cause individuals that do not meet the criteria, to fall through the cracks. “The notion of demanding compliance is counter-productive to initiatives or therapies for a child with special needs,” stressed Catterall who shared that her daughter was asked to leave the kindergarten at which she had attended simply because she was unable to be as compliant as the other children.
Technique Versus Child-Focus
“When a child is diagnosed, parents do not know where to start,” said Pua. “In many instances, there isn’t one single technique that will serve as a remedy.”
“There should always be a richer approach as opposed to settling on a one-dimensional methodology,” said Catterall. “Children with special needs are unique and they function on their own terms. It is heartbreaking to see them being treated as if they are broken and they need fixing,” shared Charman who shared that inoculating the joy into learning and therapy sessions had for her, opened a powerful method of engagement that has led to a gratifying relationship with her son.
Culture of Inclusion
“Malaysia and New Zealand both benefit from a very diverse population. In that respect, we share similar challenges and opportunities to practicing inclusion,” said Pua.
“For inclusion to achieve its benefits, teacher preparedness is paramount,” highlighted Catterall who has had her share of witnessing children being “expelled” from schools, libraries and public spheres. “Inclusion is not a chair in the classroom. It is about empowering the collaboration between typical and A typical individuals,” said Charman who stressed that for this to happen, programmes that create and instill awareness is key to a better understanding of one another.
Into the Future
In looking ahead Pua, Catterall and Charman concur that self-advocacy, awareness and training are pivotal initiatives which determine the success of inclusion. “There is so much that we must do to advance the inclusion agenda. We are all self-advocates and we should step up within our own spheres to influence change,” said Pua.
Article commissioned by
CayD Communications.
Into the Dark Alley: Text
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