I have called these High Functioning Autism events because they are aimed at those who are capable of so much, with the right approach and encouragement. I have High Functioning Asperger's and this both inspires my approach and helps me build a rapport with people.
Students and Adults with high Functioning Autism can feel isolated from most practical events. The boring 'build a tower out of newspaper' lacks challenge and often 'a point' the first time they do it. There seems such a lack of imagination, and crucially empathy by many developing and delivering such 'projects', so there are few really interesting, technically demanding and fabulously engaging events being offered to people
As someone with High Functioning Asperger's, I know what a high quality event needs, and I can summarise it in one word...
INSPIRATION
Most events and activities I hear about have ONE dimension. People build the bridge, clap about how clever they are, and then that's it.... I start with an initially simple idea, building on it in cunning ways that changes the activity, fostering critical thinking, problem solving and team work as the students develop resilence, problem solving, creativity and team working skills. Build a bridge and you teach a child to build a bridge, build three bridges and you inspire a child to be a bridge designer...
The tone of the sessions is positive and upbeat, humorous and inclusive.
Assistants and sponsors can also take part, parents can attend, EVERYONE LEARNS
TRUE STORY
" I was running a gifted and talented event in an engineering centre, and a young girl said to me, "this is much better than I thought we would be doing, usually we go to 'censored' university and build something out of paper to support an egg off the ground, it's easy". (She was spending the day in a group doing gravity powered cars with me) I asked why the University events were boring and she said, "I've been three times (Over 2 years!), and every time its the same worksheets and the same task run by the same person!" I asked why she didn't try and tell them... her honest answer was "It's better than Maths back at school"
The University ticked its 'Community Engagement' and 'Outreach' boxes, the school ticked it's 'external events' and 'aspiration' boxes, while the students were mostly bored... Isn't it time for a fresh and inspiring approach?
Students and Adults with high Functioning Autism can feel isolated from most practical events. The boring 'build a tower out of newspaper' lacks challenge and often 'a point' the first time they do it. There seems such a lack of imagination, and crucially empathy by many developing and delivering such 'projects', so there are few really interesting, technically demanding and fabulously engaging events being offered to people
As someone with High Functioning Asperger's, I know what a high quality event needs, and I can summarise it in one word...
INSPIRATION
Most events and activities I hear about have ONE dimension. People build the bridge, clap about how clever they are, and then that's it.... I start with an initially simple idea, building on it in cunning ways that changes the activity, fostering critical thinking, problem solving and team work as the students develop resilence, problem solving, creativity and team working skills. Build a bridge and you teach a child to build a bridge, build three bridges and you inspire a child to be a bridge designer...
The tone of the sessions is positive and upbeat, humorous and inclusive.
Assistants and sponsors can also take part, parents can attend, EVERYONE LEARNS
TRUE STORY
" I was running a gifted and talented event in an engineering centre, and a young girl said to me, "this is much better than I thought we would be doing, usually we go to 'censored' university and build something out of paper to support an egg off the ground, it's easy". (She was spending the day in a group doing gravity powered cars with me) I asked why the University events were boring and she said, "I've been three times (Over 2 years!), and every time its the same worksheets and the same task run by the same person!" I asked why she didn't try and tell them... her honest answer was "It's better than Maths back at school"
The University ticked its 'Community Engagement' and 'Outreach' boxes, the school ticked it's 'external events' and 'aspiration' boxes, while the students were mostly bored... Isn't it time for a fresh and inspiring approach?
