Page 39 - Intra Muros February 2024

Educating Neurodiverse Children:

Helping them be seen and heard

By Gershom Aitchison

s a school principal, I’m lucky to have been part of the many transformative journeys environment (nine schools in total). But
our students and their families have gone through. Every journey is different – as is despite the challenges, he’s grown into
Aevery child – but as two remarkable mothers recently highlighted during an EduThink a strapping, bright young man, thriving
Podcast, we are doing our children a disservice if we don’t learn to understand and ultimately under Gershom’s care and wisdom.”
embrace their differences.
Says Jo, “When our son arrived, signs of
Jo Judnick Wilson and Nicola Killops are both parents to neurodiverse sons. Nicola’s son is 19 sensory issues emerged around two-and-
and was diagnosed with autism at age 7. Jo’s son is 13 and was diagnosed at 4. a-half years. Meltdowns and intensified
sensory challenges followed. After joining
Jo and Nicola have both faced challenges finding schools that cater to their son’s needs and support groups and seeking professional
for me, this underscores the importance of embracing neurodiversity in education. There advice, our son was diagnosed with autism
is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some children learn differently, and we owe it to them to around age 4.
nurture that rather than exclude them because of it.
“We faced conflicts about mainstream
Nicola touches on her journey with James: “James is what they call ‘Twice Exceptional’ or ‘2E’ versus remedial education, and the
– intellectually gifted with dyslexia and high-functioning autism. Early on, I noticed he was journey included homeschooling during
different, struggling with sleep and speech delays. the pandemic. Eventually, we found a
supportive environment at Education
“His journey through various schools, including a remedial school and a specialised dyslexia Incorporated, where he felt comfortable
programme (The Davis Programme), eventually led him to Orion College. Unfortunately, and chose to stay back a year for his well-
he outgrew it and went through two more schools before finally settling in the right being.”

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