The AET website will be hosting a number of new case studies over the next couple of months as we update our Good Practice section with inspiring, moving and practical examples of how people are successfully contributing to the education of children and young people on the autism spectrum.
The new case studies have been written specifically for the AET and aim to be as valuable as possible to you, offering accessible information and downloadable resources to help inspire and implement similar provisions and services.
Here’s a taster of what’s to come…
Stardusters
The Unit Radio club at the Tydeman Centre, a specialist mainstream provision based at The Malling School, Kent, offers children age 11-16 on the autism spectrum the opportunity to take part in the production of radio shows – from writing scripts and developing characters to recording plays and improvisations. Productions are previewed at the school and then broadcast from the Unit Radio website.
The Unit’s first stage show –Stardusters, performed in March 2010, received widespread acclaim and prompted local MP Sir John Stanley to write to Ed Balls, then Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, to highlight this groundbreaking work and advise that it be brought to the attention of all school units for those with severe learning difficulties.
This case study describes how the Unit Radio club started and now operates, and outlines its educational and social value. It also offers information and advice on how you can make your own radio show, plus downloadable resources such as theme, improvisation and script ideas to help get you started.
The A Team Youth Club
The A Team Youth Club is a specialist youth club in Blackpool aimed at 12-25 year olds at the higher end of the autism spectrum. The club meets once a fortnight and offers a range of activities including sports, crafts and hobby nights as well as excursions to the cinema, bowling and even to the Blackpool Illuminations for chips. The club also organises an annual weekend away, challenging comfort zones and demanding that members support each other in unfamiliar situations. The result is a group dynamic that enables confidence to grow and real friendships to develop among young people who have never before known ‘friends’.
This case study outlines how The A Team started and now operates, the service that it offers its members, and the value of this to them. Communication and planning resources are also available to download.
Isaac’s successful inclusion in a mainstream school
Isaac has Asperger’s syndrome and had a very negative initial schooling experience, contributing to behavioural difficulties and a phobia of school. Isaac now attends Hampton Hill Junior School in Richmond-upon-Thames full time where he has been successfully included over the past three years. He is keen to learn and no longer needs the kinds of exceptions that originally had to be made for him. His increased confidence is clear and he is immeasurably calmer and more able to focus on things that aren’t on his agenda. He is also now able to trust people outside of his family and perhaps most importantly, sees himself as a child who can and who wants to succeed.
This case study looks at Isaac’s successful inclusion and discusses how a school, family and child can work together to achieve success; the support, planning and strategy that is required to realise these results; and offers downloadable learning resources and suggested reading.