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Private school treats children with autism and helps parents
By Jennifer Harvey |
April 27, 2010, Tuesday
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FOUR years ago Ma Chen couldn't find a special school and treatment center for her daughter with autism. So she founded one, The Carnation School, which now treats 43 children. Jennifer Harvey reports.
These children need to be loved, just like other children," appeals Ma Chen, cofounder of the Carnation School for Child Restoration Center in Hangzhou for children with mild to severe autism.
"Their perception of the world may be different, but that's no reason for them to be treated unfairly. There are daily challenges raising a child with autism, but there's so much joy as well," she adds.
The Carnation School is privately funded, and tuition is charged for each child.
According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.
Both children and adults typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities.
Autism is treatable.
Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.
Ma's unswerving dedication to helping children with autism is personal as well as professional; her daughter has autism, which was diagnosed in the early years of her life. Ma tried desperately to find treatment and an appropriate educational environment for her.
She, however, discovered that the only option available in Hangzhou was the public school that serves all types of mental and physical disabilities, and that there were no services specifically targeted for families of children with autism.
While researching the availability of professional care for her daughter, Ma met several other parents with similar needs. Consequently, Ma, with her family's support, particularly her sister Daisy, who also has a child with autism, founded the Carnation school in 2006.
Today, there are 43 children registered at the school that is housed in two separate buildings - Building One serves 30 children, from 18 months old to 6 years; and Building Two serves 13 children from age 7 to 14.
There are 25 teachers at the school, all of them with a background in art and/or music education. In addition to group activities in music and art, the younger students in Building One receive one-on-one academic instruction, and the older students in Building Two are taught in small groups.
Parents of students in both buildings are required to be at school and attend all classes with their children Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Daisy and Ma are two attractive women in their late 30s and early 40s who both say they are sustained by their faith, the support of the community of parents and caregivers at the Carnation School and the unique personalities of each child.
Most importantly, the sisters say they feel fortunate that they are able to help other parents of children with autism. They share the parents' happiness when their children improve; when a parent goes from desperation to relaxation with their child; and when a non-verbal child starts speaking a few words.
Daisy and Ma are proud and determined for the rest of their lives to address the issues of children with autism.
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in China is unknown, but there is an increase of autism awareness in the society. Nonetheless, the sisters believe that the society is still largely unclear about the facts, and that many people do not know how to relate to children with autism and their families.
They ask that these children not be neglected or ignored, but that they are shown acceptance, understanding, tolerance, indulgence and love.
The Carnation School faces many obstacles, such as hiring, training and retaining qualified, caring teachers; raising sufficient funds to allow the school to expand and accept the many students who are on a waiting list; providing resources to help relieve the financial and emotional burdens many parents endure; and obtaining more materials for the school.
The founders are most concerned, however, about ensuring that children in China with autism get a chance to live a fruitful and meaningful life in the same way other children do, and know that there is hope.
Jennifer Harvey is a freelancer from Minnesota, USA. She is now living in Hangzhou.
These children need to be loved, just like other children," appeals Ma Chen, cofounder of the Carnation School for Child Restoration Center in Hangzhou for children with mild to severe autism.
"Their perception of the world may be different, but that's no reason for them to be treated unfairly. There are daily challenges raising a child with autism, but there's so much joy as well," she adds.
The Carnation School is privately funded, and tuition is charged for each child.
According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.
Both children and adults typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities.
Autism is treatable.
Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.
Ma's unswerving dedication to helping children with autism is personal as well as professional; her daughter has autism, which was diagnosed in the early years of her life. Ma tried desperately to find treatment and an appropriate educational environment for her.
She, however, discovered that the only option available in Hangzhou was the public school that serves all types of mental and physical disabilities, and that there were no services specifically targeted for families of children with autism.
While researching the availability of professional care for her daughter, Ma met several other parents with similar needs. Consequently, Ma, with her family's support, particularly her sister Daisy, who also has a child with autism, founded the Carnation school in 2006.
Today, there are 43 children registered at the school that is housed in two separate buildings - Building One serves 30 children, from 18 months old to 6 years; and Building Two serves 13 children from age 7 to 14.
There are 25 teachers at the school, all of them with a background in art and/or music education. In addition to group activities in music and art, the younger students in Building One receive one-on-one academic instruction, and the older students in Building Two are taught in small groups.
Parents of students in both buildings are required to be at school and attend all classes with their children Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Daisy and Ma are two attractive women in their late 30s and early 40s who both say they are sustained by their faith, the support of the community of parents and caregivers at the Carnation School and the unique personalities of each child.
Most importantly, the sisters say they feel fortunate that they are able to help other parents of children with autism. They share the parents' happiness when their children improve; when a parent goes from desperation to relaxation with their child; and when a non-verbal child starts speaking a few words.
Daisy and Ma are proud and determined for the rest of their lives to address the issues of children with autism.
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in China is unknown, but there is an increase of autism awareness in the society. Nonetheless, the sisters believe that the society is still largely unclear about the facts, and that many people do not know how to relate to children with autism and their families.
They ask that these children not be neglected or ignored, but that they are shown acceptance, understanding, tolerance, indulgence and love.
The Carnation School faces many obstacles, such as hiring, training and retaining qualified, caring teachers; raising sufficient funds to allow the school to expand and accept the many students who are on a waiting list; providing resources to help relieve the financial and emotional burdens many parents endure; and obtaining more materials for the school.
The founders are most concerned, however, about ensuring that children in China with autism get a chance to live a fruitful and meaningful life in the same way other children do, and know that there is hope.
Jennifer Harvey is a freelancer from Minnesota, USA. She is now living in Hangzhou.
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