In Saint Patrick's Boys’ National School, the promotion of diversity and the fostering of a sense of belonging is at the heart of our school ethos. Our Inclusion Program ensures the integration of children from our autism support classes into our mainstream classes at every opportunity. By creating a culture where all children, regardless of neurodevelopmental differences learn together, we foster understanding, empathy and acceptance.
Each child in our autism classes has an individual education plan tailored to suit their needs. In keeping with their plan, they may join a mainstream class for the areas of the curriculum that suits.
Currently we have children from our early intervention class and junior autism class joining junior infants, senior infants and 1st class for maths, aistear, music, art, nursery rhymes and story time. Boys from our senior autism class join 2nd 3rd 4th & 5th classes for art, music, PE, SESE, drama and Lego league. The boys from the senior autism class also enjoy a shared-reading program with their 6th class peers. Our wonderful class teachers and special needs assistants ensure every effort is made to create a sensory-friendly environment for these children. Sometimes this calls for low lighting, reduced noise and the use of visual aids.
The boys in mainstream thoroughly enjoy meeting their autistic friends every day and naturally reach out to them and support them during lunch time and play time in the yard. We believe that time spent together ensures that the children get to know each other and allows each child to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Of course, the Integration Program works both ways!
Reverse integration is a very exciting aspect of our Inclusion Program where the mainstream boys go to the autism support classes for instruction. There they do computer work, yoga, baking, dance, art and craft. Reverse integration allows mainstream boys learn new skills. It also gives them an insight into how their autistic friends learn and they experience firsthand the challenges they face.
In Saint Patrick's we welcome open communication around autism and diversity. Our inclusion program is very important to us. Inclusion is not just a goal but a proud cornerstone of our school ethos. We want all our students to feel they belong to a school community that values them and supports their learning style.
In Irish we say “Ní neart go cur le chéile” which means ‘there is no strength without unity’ or ‘we are stronger together’. By bringing our students together, we weave a school community that celebrates diversity and becomes fortified and enriched by our uniqueness and our differences.
