Page 36 - Waterfall City Issue 2 February 2024

Waterfall City Today’s Child

Educating Neurodiverse Children:
HELPING THEM BE

SEEN AND HEARD

By Gershom Aitchison.
Headmaster of Education Incorporated and creator of EduThink Podcasts.

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

34 Waterfall City Issue 2 2024