Autism & Children

In France, autistic children are granted the presence of a classroom assistant at school. You have to make a request, along with the school advisor, at the Regional Office for Disabilities. There isn’t always enough assistants, or assistants who are specifically trained for autistic children, but I believe there is no need for a psychology diploma to take care of an autistic kid- a little motivation is enough. Here are a few thoughts about school, and what I expect from Matthieu’s classroom assistant.

Motivation

I would like her to be someone with my son’s best interests at heart, understanding how much he will need her presence, and benefit from it. Someone who doesn’t leave him wandering aimlessly at the back of the classroom so he does not disturb his classmates’ activities.

Empathy

I would like her to learn to understand Matthieu, to be able to compromise, to be able not to always give in, someone with high standards, asking him to do his best.

Listening skills

I would like her to listen to us parents, and to Matthieu’s therapeutic team, so she can find out about the learning process which is specific to autistic children – and to Matthieu. I would like her to be paying attention when Matthieu is speaking, because he usually goes quiet when someone is speaking at the same time as him.

Stamina

I hope she will be in shape, because Matthieu is rather restless. I’ve spent three days with him at school, and spent a lot of time chasing him so he wouldn’t misbehave. It is the classroom assistant’s role to take him where the children are, prevent him from wreaking havoc, and teach him to keep quiet during the activities – which is not always easy.

Patience

Spending your days with a child who doesn’t always want to do what he’s asked can be exhausting – I have experienced it. However, the assistant will have to patiently repeat the same instructions, the same movements to show him what to do and so on.

Gentleness

I hope my son’s classroom assistant will find something to love in my son, I hope she’ll grow attached to him at least a little, and that she’ll have his happiness and his best interests at heart. I hope that she will be firm without being mean, that she will comfort him when he needs it, that she will make him love her.

Communication

I would like Matthieu’s assistant to communicate with us on a regular basis, so she can tell us about his days and what he’s been doing, the problems she’s had to face, the progress she’s been observing. Maybe we will be able to keep in touch through some kind of logbook.

For Matthieu to be well integrated to his classroom and make progress, his classroom assistant will need to be committed to him, and to think of his future before thinking of her comfort. I hope we’ll find such a gem, with all the features I have just described.

How about you? Does your child have a classroom assistant? How is it going? What are the other features you wish for in a classroom assistant? Do not hesitate to share this in the comment section.