What we can learn from children with autism doesn’t come from textbooks

Tomorrow is World Autism Awareness Day. Iconic buildings all over the world, from the Sydney Opera House to the Empire State Building, will be lit up in blue to commemorate it. Those of us who are autism-aware will dress in the same colour to mark it.

Early in my career as a primary-school teacher I faced the challenge of teaching an Asperger’s class in a mainstream school. Asperger’s is a form of autism in which social interaction, imagination and communication pose the most difficulties for the person. Having no previous experience in the area, I was apprehensive and nervous.

Little did I know that these children would teach me more valuable life lessons than I could ever teach them.

I hadn’t realised how I accepted what I was taught in school or university without question, learning facts at face value.

I recall first teaching the “th” sound to one of the infants. Pointing to a picture of a clown sticking out his tongue, I asked the pupil, “What sound is the clown making?” expecting him to say “th”. I was surprised by his literal response. “I don’t know, I can’t hear him.” This was fascinating. I had never thought about it like that before. Was he lacking in imagination skills or was I?

The more I learn about Asperger’s, the more in awe I am of these children. I have witnessed children’s outbursts because of an over-sensitivity to light or noise. Sometimes Asperger’s has secondary issues such as poor motor skills, speech difficulties or dyslexia. Children must cope with these daily, and this is before the curriculum even comes into play.

The autistic spectrum is so broad that a description of one child can be completely different to another. Asperger’s is at the high-functioning end of the spectrum. The children’s ability often far outweighs their disability. I have often wondered what they will be like as adults.

One boy is obsessed with dates and figures and will make a great historian. Another is an avid reader and superb author for his young age and will be an excellent writer.

Positive effect
These children can be immensely talented and interesting. They will be wonderful members of society, yet as they grow up they'll be judged because of their "abnormal" social habits. When I reflect on my own youth, I regret how I labelled certain people in my ignorance of special needs. Like most of my peers, I thought special needs would be physically obvious.

The biggest difference an Asperger’s unit makes in a mainstream school is the positive effect it has on the other children. The mainstream pupils are protective, loving and caring of the special classes. They are inclusive and mature beyond their years because of their interactions with special needs from an early age. These lessons cannot be taught from textbooks.

My experience of children on the autistic spectrum has been as a teacher, yet these children have educated me and changed my outlook on life more than they will ever know. For that I am eternally grateful.

Happy Autism Awareness Day!

Primary school teacher Claire Heylin taught in the Asperger's unit in St Joseph's CBS, Fairview, Dublin .