Geordie
Geordie
I believe that the many people think children with autism are not "normal".
Most people probably have an idea of what autism is - that a child with this condition will be extremely quiet, and not willing to speak up.
I was no exception.
But I am so happy that I have been proven wrong, very wrong.
Autistic children are normal, no wait, normal is not the word, I should say extraordinary.
I held a 40-minute talk at Pathlight School.
It was about energy, and was for 118 Primary 3 and Primary 4 pupils.
You won't imagine how vocal these children are.
They were anxious to participate, and excited to come up on stage and share their answers.
I heard answers flying across from every corner of the hall when I posed a question.
I saw hands going up as quickly as they could, indicating their hope to be chosen.
When asked about saving the environment, they gave answers beyond the usual 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle).
They talked about reforestation and conservation of biodiversity - suggestions I would not expect from a mainstream P3 or P4 student.
At the end of the session, the children came up to me and thanked me.
I was blown away.
They are the most polite kids I have ever met.
I felt I should be the one thanking them for allowing me to do the talk.
These kids will grow up to be better than any of us can imagine. Truly extraordinary!
(TNP reader, Klara Chua Mei Chin)
Autistic kids are extraordinary
As a current volunteer in Pathlight School, I may not had attended the talk, but my experiences in Pathlight had been similarly extraordinary, every day.