Kierons Journey

1
Kierons Journey

• Partnership what is it?
• Parents and educators working together.

2
Where did the journey begin?

• Kieron very anxious in school. Demeanour
• Rec Y1 Squirmed-no eye contact.
• No eating. Lunch box crackers (Jacobs).
  Blackcurrant. Lost weight and looked felt/cold
  at playtimes.
• No fruit/juice time.
• Upset afraid of failure.. Distressed.
• Behaviours- shouting, screaming, crying, licking
  children, yelled on the yard. Would bite other
  children. Attacked mum at end of day.
• Never asked for help. Communication eventually
  came in a silly voice.
• Experienced anxiety at hall times/practices/lunch
  times/fire alarms spotted notification of fire
  drill on teachers weekly memo.

3
Conwy ASD team became involved..

• November 2005, 3 sessions per week.
• Developed star charts, picture timeline.
• Fruit /eating encouragement tiny bits at a
  time.
• PATHs, feelings/ emotional literacy.
• Literacy, e.g. describing pictures.
• Maths back to basics, four rules, language.
• SEN teacher came in to advise on next steps.

4
Imitation to Innovation

• Developing literacy
• Pie Corbett development of writing.
• Structure to invention.
• Mapping stories, events, sentences.
• VISUAL PROMPTS IMPORTANT.

5
Input from the experts

• Autism Cymru
• Background information about the condition
• Social stories/development
• Visual Schedules for all
• Work stations
• Sharing information INSET and informal chat in
  school
• Clinical Psychologist-making food fun..

6
Most important experts parents!

• Open the door! What are we afraid of?
• Need for holistic knowledge of the child.
• Dialogue.
• Learning is about linking facts/skills.
• Keeping consistency and routine.

7
Sara Miller

• I cant think myself out of a paper bag socially.
  When I run into a situation thats totally
  differentI cant figure out what to do. Its
  got to be something that Ive seen someone else
  do before so that I can mimic them or I need
  someone to tell me what to do.
• REASON FOR BEHAVIOURS/MELTDOWN!

8
The effects of acquiring knowledge

• Experiential learning!
• The child teaches the parent/educator. We have to
  use our flexible thoughts to go with the child.
• The more you read the less you know!
• The learning never ends..

9
Trial and error

• No medicine for it then!
• Need space, time and energy!
• As a teacher (Easier job)
• Social stories for routines
• As a parent (More difficult)
• Cant cover every eventuality but act on each
  experience..stories..

10
Teachers/educators perspectives-Barriers to
inclusion..

• No time!!
• Theres 30 other children in the class!
• Lack of knowledge regarding Autism.
• Maintaining discipline addressing all
  childrens needs adopting the same expectations,
  strategies, rewards and consequences.
• Home / school barriers.

11
Relying on the continued support and staying
enchanted

• Teachers and parents maintaining enthusiasm. How
  do we?
• The goose bumps make it worthwhile.

12
Working beyond the tick boxes and requirements

• If we follow job descriptions nothing moves on..
• Apply some of the theories- adapt and change
  according to the individual.
• TAKES TIME PATIENCE AND ENERGY!

13
The educational process as a journeythe journey
so far.

• Calm patches, congestion, scenic, direct, traffic
  jams, dead ends, bottle necks, pleasant
  surprises. Reach landmarks but never the
  destination.
• Are we there yet?
• Kieron confident / self assured in school.
  Demeanour displays an increased feeling of well
  being.
• Has developed eye contact.
• Eats well in school. School dinners going down
  well.
• Takes part in drinks/tuck time.
• Still afraid of failure.. Not so distressed.
• Negative behaviours now rare.
• Asks for help and expresses feelings through the
  assistance of PECs/help book. Will express
  himself verbally and literacy developed can
  explain in limited sentences.
• Anxiety generally has decreased, e.g. hall
  times/practices/lunchtimes/fire alarms.
• Parents/educators common goal so communicate!
• Being honest. Supporting each other.
• Maintaining the feeling of being OK!. Making it
  FUN.

14
Time for questions..!

• FEEL FREE! WE MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWERS! BUT
  WELL GO BACK TO NORTH WALES AND TRY AND FIND
  OUT!