Bridging the gaps on autism through seminar |15 May 2023
There is a need to bridge the gaps of autism in Seychelles and on Saturday, different stakeholders met at the Olympic House to raise awareness to meet the needs of learners with the development disorder.
One of the main reasons for the seminar was because of the alarming factor that autism is quickly on the rise in the country, and more needs to be done for parents to be able to confront this reality.
It is estimated that approximately 1% of the global population is on the autism spectrum. The number of children diagnosed with autism in Seychelles currently stands at around 140 with over 130 more children identified as showing signs of autism and awaiting diagnostic assessment from a multidisciplinary team according to statistics released last month by the Health Care Agency’s early childhood intervention centre.
The presentation covered multiple aspects of the development disorder including some of the symptoms that one with autism might have.
Autism Seychelles vice-chairperson Lyn Lavigne said it could be divided into two main categories, social interaction and behaviour. Some common symptoms include delayed language development, difficulty making eye contact, and repetitive behaviours.
Children with autism may also have sensory issues, such as being sensitive to certain sounds or textures.
“It's important to note that the severity of these symptoms can vary widely,” she stated.
Ms Lavigne went on to explain that a generalisation of people with autism is practically impossible because each individual person will have his/her own unique factors.
She cited her son as an example, explaining that he struggled to tie his shoe laces, and she accommodated this by buying Velcro shoes.
However, as he grew up, he could no longer fit in the Velcro shoes and in Seychelles, the shoes were not available for older children. “Eventually, we won,” she added.
Ms Lavigne explained that the diagnosis of autism is typically made by a team of specialists, including a paediatrician, psychologist, and speech therapist. The diagnosis is based on the child's behaviour and development, including his/her social interactions and communication skills. There is no single medical test to diagnose autism.
“It is recommended that your child gets checked from a very young age to see whether he/she shows signs of these symptoms, so you can plan on how to deal with the challenges that may arise,” she explained.
Ms Lavigne explained that there are no direct cure for autism. The development order is for life, “which is why it is important to be able to deal with it and the complications it occurs”. There are many treatments that can help children with autism develop important skills and lead more fulfilling lives. Some common treatments include behavioural therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Medications may also be prescribed to help with certain symptoms, such as anxiety or hyperactivity.
She then showcased some famous people who have had autism, including Temple Grandin, Dan Aykroyd, and Daryl Hannah. These people have gone on to excel in fields such as animal science, comedy, and acting.
Ms Lavigne explained that family support is crucial in helping individuals with autism navigate their everyday lives and overcome the challenges they face.
“By showing consistent love, encouragement and understanding, family members can go a long way in creating a positive and nurturing environment in which individuals with autism can thrive and develop better communication and social skills.”
There are many ways to which there could be tailored services to deal with autism, such as making sure that there is adequate supervision in schools to make sure that children are not bullied because of their disorder. There could be things like a buddy support system at school; training for specific teachers to deal with stimming; creating small sensory rooms in schools and providing one-to-one reinforcement sessions; preparing IEP for students; and things like a parent and teacher liaison booklet for ease of communication.
To conclude the seminar, there were a few testimonial accounts of young children who have had autism and who have managed to go through the barriers and put their energy into things they enjoy such as karate, online gaming and art.
Education Minister, Dr Justin Valentin, in his opening remarks, stated that the seminar is “perfect as a new platform to help bridge the gaps of autism”.
He explained that subsequent to an autism meeting in March of this year, he instructed the Inclusive education working group to engage with the board and to organise a seminar with the aim of rallying all stakeholders to find solutions together.
“I am happy to say that each time the group is giving a task, they deliver,” said Minister Valentin.
He added that the seminar is the perfect way to include children with autism, to engage and give them the required support they merit. He discussed the fact that the right to education, including children with autism, is obligatory for all relevant stakeholders and the government.
The minister reiterated that the ministry is fully committed to empowering all future citizens, and to contribute positively to the process of building a sustainable, peaceful and harmonious Seychelles society.
“We will continue to strive to build a coherent and comprehensive system of quality education and the impressionable values which will power the holistic development of learners and empower them fully to deal with the social and economic development, regardless of their special educational needs,” said Minister Valentin.
The ministry’s strategic plan for the period 2021-24 remains committed to ensuring an education system that is relevant and high quality that can be accessed by all learners from all backgrounds within the country.
Chairperson of Autism Association board, Christian Faure, explained the context behind the seminar. The inclusive working group that was established had a meeting with the Ministry of Education and discussed that autism was not one-dimensional but in fact a multi-dimensional issue that affects education, health and social services.
“What better way than to have a seminar to bring everyone concerned in one room to discuss and come up with a strategy, about how we can move forward in a comprehensive manner,” stated Mr Faure.
Mr Faure explained that the one autism centre Seychelles has is not enough to deal with the multi-facilitated issues that is autism and not enough to meet the needs.
“This is one of the things that we are discussing,” he said.
Educational psychologist from the Ministry of Education, Catriona Monthy, explained that the seminar is to discuss the needs of the autistic population of children in education and to bring different organisations and stakeholders to see where they are in terms of progress.
“More importantly, where do we go from here,” explained Ms Monthy. “We have a plan that if there are things missing, in the next three to four years, how are we going to address it?”
She concluded that each autistic child is different and there are unique needs for each individual person so there needs to be a reflection so that when thinking about what the children need, there is no generalisation.
Sunny Esparon
Photos by Joena Meme
