[One Sip of a Book] It's Okay to Have Autism, We Are Entering Elementary School

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The author's child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 36 months old. At the time, the author had experience caring for many children as a kindergarten teacher, but autism was a significant challenge. However, with the whole family’s support and participation, they achieved their own growth. Now, the child is well adapted to elementary school and is enjoying school life. The author published this book to share the hard-earned experience and know-how with many people. The on-site experiences embedded in the growth process of both the author and the son are explained from the perspectives of parents, schools, and treatment institutions. It also provides detailed information on what and how to prepare for school admission.

We recommend that parents slowly create a checklist regarding what Ma-eum-i can do, knows, and cannot do. The reason is that no matter what elementary school environment the child enters, it is necessary to accurately inform the homeroom teacher, special class teacher, vice principal, and principal about our child’s level and prepare for situations where help may be needed. Occasionally, at the beginning of the semester, when assigned a special education student or a child with disabilities, you may encounter a teacher who emotionally distances themselves without even checking the child’s condition.

To prepare for all these situations, take time to carefully review all aspects of our child’s development, learning, cognition, behavior, and social skills. Only then can you judge whether our child should enter a general school with a special class, attend a special school, choose an alternative school, or delay elementary school enrollment, and prepare for moving by changing regions accordingly.

The school admission notice is issued based on the resident registration address as of the end of October the previous year. Therefore, if there is a school you wish to enter, it is less complicated to finalize your move before October of the previous year and prepare for admission. Although there are slight differences by school and region, if you plan to move and change your address for admission, it is recommended to inform the school in advance to ensure smooth preparation. Please inquire with the local education office and the elementary school for admission. In the case of Ma-eum-i, a special education student, as mentioned earlier, a preliminary decision about the desired school should be made by August. This is because the application for special education student admission placement begins every year in mid-September.

In first-grade classrooms, there is a tendency to focus on minimizing risks within the class. Ma-eum-i will be among them. From the homeroom teacher’s perspective, if Ma-eum-i struggles to keep up with classroom life, the teacher will become a troubled human being, wondering how long to wait for the child and how to care for and guide them. Additionally, if there are continuous direct or indirect contacts from parents with suggestions or complaints, can the teacher view the children with loving hearts every day? The most important thing is not the child’s slowness but positive trust in the relationship with the parents. It has been proven by diagnosis that Ma-eum-i is slow and somewhat lacking, and since Ma-eum-i is selected as a special education student, the teacher can wait sufficiently and plan class management according to the child’s tendencies. However, if parents’ complaints, distrust, and unilateral requests are repeated frequently, it can change the interest in Ma-eum-i.

If you want to find one thing your child is good at but are struggling, please teach them to be a polite child at home, which is the easiest and most basic. Ma-eum-i greeting the security guard loudly at the school gate when going to school, Ma-eum-i greeting friends by calling their names in the classroom, Ma-eum-i greeting other teachers in the hallway during break time with a belly-button bow. Teach your child to be bright and courteous in greetings. When your child has one thing they do well, they will receive praise and attention from teachers and friends, which can boost self-esteem and help with school adaptation.

It's Okay to Have Autism, We Are Entering Elementary School! | Written by Kim Yoon-jung | Illustrated by Lee Han-hee | Midas Books | 320 pages | 17,000 KRW