health stories
TRANSCRIPT
Comenius partnership:Unvoiced Narratives of
Students
Health Stories
Four cases from our school
Mesimeri Primary school
In Greek Educational System children with special needs can study either
-at Special Schools or
-at the self-contained classes
Special Schools: serious disabilities e.g. physical disabilities, celebral palsy, autism, Down’s syndrome, blindness, deafness, heavy mental deficiency, etc.
self-contained classes: classrooms in ordinary schools supported by a special teacher specialized in learning disabilities, dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity disorder), light mental deficiency.
involve special teaching procedures modified to meet the individual educational needs.
in our school since 2006
Mesimeri Primary school
Diagnosis:
multiple disabilities (heavy mental retardation, physical disabilities, kinetic & vision problems, speech absence)
Symptoms:
- Unable to participate in class activities
- difficulty in sitting on his chair for a few minutes
- Incapable to express any of his needs
- Often outbursts at risk of self-injuring
Mesimeri Primary school
Student 1 (graduated two years ago)
Consequences:
- Disturbing peers, teachers and teaching procedure
- Risk of self-injuring
Student 1 (graduated two years ago)
Mesimeri Primary school
Interventions:- Informing his school mates
(through role play-videos etc)- Constant support of a second
teacher- Attending the self-contained
class in order to develop skills of self help
- Socialization using permanent escort-support of 2-3 classmates
- Support and consulting by team of specialists (ergo-, speech-, physiotherapist)
Student 1 (graduated two years ago)
Mesimeri Primary school
Results:- He learned to express (verbalize)
his personal needs- He developed basic skills of self-
help- He learned and verbalized his
personal assets (name, address, etc)
but- He is still depending on adult
assistant
Student 1 (graduated two years ago)
Mesimeri Primary school
Student 2 (graduated last year)
Diagnosis: moderate mental deficiency,
ADHD, speech disorder Symptoms: Antisocial behaviour - He used to catch and take food
from other students (gluttony)
- He spitted and messied around - Unable to participate in a team
game - He didn’t obey in rules
Mesimeri Primary school
Consequences:- Negative reaction of peers,
a lot of complaints- Detestation- Refusal to play with him
Student 2 (graduated last year)
Mesimeri Primary school
Interventions:- Attending the self-contained class - Constant support of a second school
teacher in the “ordinary” class- Behaviour modification and setting
rules/limits- Informing his school-mates in order to
understand his problems and become tolerant
- Encouraging him to participate in everyday school activity
- Support and consulting by a team of specialists (ergo-, speech therapist, educational consultant)
Student 2 (graduated last year)
Mesimeri Primary school
Results:- His peers realized his
disabilities and uniqueness- Became tolerable included
him in their teams- He learned rules and started
to improve/change his behaviour
- He has made significant progress in academic tasks
- This year is attending a special secondary school.
Student 2 (graduated last year)
Mesimeri Primary school
Diagnosis: Down’s syndrome with mental
deficiency Symptoms: - 2-3 years lower mental level - Inability to follow class activities - Used to be hesitant tending to be
isolated - Low self-esteem
Student 3 (5th grade)
Mesimeri Primary school
Consequences:- Isolated- Limited chances to improve
her self-confidence
Student 3 (5th grade)
Mesimeri Primary school
Interventions:- Attending the self-contained class - Help-support by her classmates
and teachers to cope with a minimum grade demands
- Involvement in any class or school activity (festivities, visits, sports, etc)
- Stimulating her self-esteem by socializing her
- Support by team of specialists (speech therapist, school educational consultant)
Student 3 (5th grade)
Mesimeri Primary school
Results:
- Now fully accepted by classmates
- No more isolated- She takes part (as much as she
can) in her academic tasks and everyday school activities
Student 3 (5th grade)
Mesimeri Primary school
Diagnosis: Behavioural problems and speech
disorders Symptoms: - Anger/intense outbursts - Aggression, provocative
reactions - Lack of cooperation with peers - Objection - Distraction - Low self-esteem
Causingserious disturbance during the lesson
Student 4 (2th grade)
Mesimeri Primary school
Interventions:
- Continual reinforcement of the good behaviour
- Setting rules and limits
- Positive reinforcement of his speaking ability
- Participating in common activities (socialization)
- support by a team of specialists
Student 4 (2th grade)
Mesimeri Primary school
Results:
- Significant reduce of anger outbursts
- Try to follow behavioural rules
- He is attending the self contained class in order to cope with the academic goals of his class
Mesimeri Primary school
Student 4 (2th grade)
Mesimeri Primary school