On Tuesday, April 2nd, we celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. Access to education remains a major obstacle to learning and development for autistic children.
This is a challenge that the Special Education Needs Authority (SENA) is aware of. In order to better prepare teachers to work with these children, a training program will be offered to them in June.
This program is called Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), which has proven successful in several countries.
Arvin Authelsingh, head of SENA, places special importance on autistic children.
With this in mind, he has enlisted the support of psychologist Kimberley Maich, one of the top scholars in autism and ABA in Canada, for a training session for teachers working with autistic children. One in 52 children are autistic.
According to the director of SENA, the number of children on the autism spectrum continues to rise. According to World Health Organization figures, the ratio is 1 in 100. “According to official figures, the number in Mauritius is 1 in 93.
However, according to our office, the number is 1 in 52,” explains Arvin Authelsingh, who reflects on the United Nations theme this year, which is transitioning from survival to thriving.
Arvin Authelsingh adds that SENA is working hard to provide the necessary support to autistic children.
“We are working to make people understand that autistic children are just like any other children.
They need to be welcomed, supported, and understood. When they go to school, everyone needs to collaborate to support them,” he explains.
SENA is focusing on training, particularly ABA. 500 people, including teachers and teaching assistants, will benefit from this training.
“We have enlisted Dr. Kimberley Maich for training teachers working with autistic children, both in specialized schools and regular schools.
This training will also be directed at paramedics so they can better support and offer advanced therapies to the children,” adds Arvin Authelsingh.
He calls for autistic children to be welcomed in school settings, which he considers “their place”, just like any other children.
Source: Defi Media
