Supporting Autistic Students with Transition (Part 2) I CAN Schools program: Echuca College
[Jess Sargeant, Principal, Echuca College]
We're a part of the I CAN Network so that program we have our students who are on the spectrum in year nine and ten mentor and buddy up with the year six students through term four.
So they do a program where they come in, they get to know a key member of the school. They get supported in developing those relationships. We've found it's really good for our students on the spectrum in year nine and ten to have that responsibility.
[Amy Barnes, Inclusion Support Team and I CAN Coordinator]
So the I CAN Program is an autistic led program. That's where autistic children or students are meeting with other autistic students. We're working on empowering them, connecting, reconnecting, building confidence, where a lot of the kids will say that I can't do things moves to that I can.
Primarily what we're doing is having six small group sessions with each school via video link or face to face, where those kids are meeting with other kids that are from different schools, making those connections.
When the students first come together, they are really quiet and reserved. They're quite timid. By the second or third session, when we're into the team building exercises and where we're making some connections, you start to see them integrate with each other and they'll start to mix with each other and find common ground.
And by the sixth session, these kids have completely come out of their shells. They're no longer really concerned about being autistic and what that's going to look like in a mainstream school.
[Jacob, Student, Echuca College]
I joined the I CAN Program at Echuca College, and that helped me meet some of my mates. And then it was good to meet Amy in there too because that gave me someone to talk to when I needed it, when I got to high school.
[Amy Barnes, Inclusion Support Team and I CAN Coordinator]
To be able to get to the end of the program and have children go home and tell their parents how fantastic it is to advocate for themselves to be involved with that building of confidence with these students. It's just amazing.
[On-screen text]
Disability Inclusion, Education for All
Education State / Victoria State Government / Education logo
Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne.
[End transcript]
Updated