Raising awareness about autism and promoting inclusivity for children with special needs was a key focus during the “Fruity Whimsy” event organised by Beacon Learning Centre at the USP Gymnasium, where students, teachers and parents gathered for a day of activities and learning.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Romeo Matakibau, who has been teaching at the centre for six years and works with the Shining Stars autism class, highlighted that working with children on the autism spectrum requires patience, compassion and understanding.
He says teachers sometimes face difficulties when children come to school after experiencing challenges at home, and teachers have to constantly remind themselves to approach the children with empathy.
INSERT: Matakibau on challenges 6th Mar
Matakibau stressed the importance of inclusion, especially for children with special needs.
He believes there is still limited awareness about autism in Fiji, and that this needs to be expanded and addressed in the community.
He says he has come across a few parents who thought autism comes from their family line and did not accept that their children are autistic.
Matakibau says schools also play a role in preparing students to interact in the community so they know how to treat and support people with special needs.
He says Beacon Learning Centre is an inclusive school where children are taught the importance of inclusivity and awareness about people with special needs.
He suggested that those working in special education should reach out to communities to share knowledge and understanding.
Matakibau also encouraged parents to maintain strong communication with their children.
He says education starts from home and parents should speak to their children with love.
He also advised children to seek support when facing problems.
Meanwhile, Head of Kindergarten at Beacon Learning Centre, Sotiana Ranadi says the “Fruity Whimsy” event aimed to promote healthy eating while encouraging inclusion between kindergarten and autism students.
She says they had a costume parade where a lot of students came dressed as fruits they liked, and they also participated in different activity stations where they sorted fruits, cut fruits and made their own fruit salads.
She says events like this are designed to bring students together so that they know they are all the same.
She emphasised that inclusion is central to the school’s activities and that including children with autism in shared activities helps them feel accepted and valued.
INSERT: Ranadi on inclusion 6th Mar
Ranadi also highlighted the importance of parental involvement.
She is also encouraging parents to attend events like this so that they can see how their child is in the classroom, what the environment feels like, and how included their children feel.
