Institutions have not done a lot for the inclusion of autistic children except for their declarative support. Sarajevo elementary school ‘Skender Kulenovic’ have a different approach to autism. They practice inclusive education and provide children with autism with an opportunity.
Emir and Ira holding their hands, Ajas helping his classmate Arslan is what inclusion actually is, ‘Skender Kulenovic’ elementary school students said on Tuesday, marking the World Autism Awareness Day.
“It was really hard in the third grade when I started helping him more than I did in the first or the second grade. A new student, it was hard for him to get to know us, he was used to his mum, dad and sister. Then in the fourth grade, he became one of us. We were all getting along. In the fifth grade, we were sitting next to each other. Wherever I go he is there with me, that’s how we became friends, the best friends,” Ajas, a sixth-grade student, speaks only the best of his autistic classmate Arslan.
“I like helping a lot because he is my friend,” said Asja, another classmate.
Students of Sarajevo elementary school ‘Skender Kulenovic’ proved to be good friends and how to respect diversities. The school’s staff, on the other hand, showed how to be a good pedagogue. For autistic children and their parents, this is essential.
Science defines autism spectrum as a complex disorder whose main feature is poor social interaction and limited or repetitive patterns of behaviour. The best professionals dealing with the children with autism are those who spend with them several hours per week, share their time, knowledge and friendship with them.
“We, teachers, create such atmosphere in the classroom so that no student see their friends in a different way,” explained Sanela Delic, a teacher.
Autism Awareness Day was also marked in the southern city of Mostar in an event organised by the Centre for Children and Youth with Special Needs ‘Los Rosales’.
The event was aimed to show “we can all look different” but that “we are all equal and need our place under this sky and under this sun,” the organiser, Mirna Mezit, said.
“A huge progress has been made but prejudices still exist and there is also a need to solve the issue of social and general inclusion of the children with disabilities, including the children with autism spectrum,” she added.
Autistic children usually face difficulties in three crucial segments of growing up, social interaction, communication and behaviour.
In 2008, the United Nations declared April 2 the World Autism Awareness Day.
