My Way!

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Category - Kids

First News is running a campaign called My Way! It’s about getting people to understand that everybody learns in their own way. For some people school is easy but, for others, it might be harder.

My name is Sam, I am 11 years old and I have Asperger syndrome, learning difficulties and dyspraxia.

When I first started school I attended a mainstream school and it was soon very clear that I was different to everyone else. It was hard to cope with all the noise of a big classroom and I found it difficult to make friends. I felt upset and scared at times because nobody understood me.

For instance, I like routine and need to know what is going to happen during the day. Sometimes the timetable would change without warning which would confuse me and I would react by hiding away, having tantrums and getting angry. It soon became clear mainstream school wasn’t going to work for me so I was moved to a special school which caters only for boys with Asperger syndrome.

When I started at my new school I was very excited and fitted in straight away. Learning at school is so much easier now as the teachers understand me a lot more. We are in smaller classes so there is less noise to distract me and I have a personal timetable so I know exactly how my day is planned out. If I feel angry I can have timeout to calm down which helps me a lot.

I have reflexology at school which I really love as I get to be massaged with all these lovely smelling oils. Afterwards I feel very calm and relaxed. I also have lots of friends now as we have all shared similar experiences. Everyone in my school has Asperger syndrome so I am no longer different. Rather than being known as the boy with a disability, I am just SAM.

I love all my lessons but I am particularly good at maths and music. My music teacher is very patient with me and has taught me how to play the bass guitar which I love playing. I get frustrated sometimes as I cannot read or write very well but I have help from my TAs so I don’t fall too far behind. There is nothing I do not like about my school.

I can achieve anything I want if I try hard enough.

My family are pretty good with me as they understand I have some problems. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have Asperger as I find it difficult to express my feelings and get very angry at times. I don’t have many friends out of school and have been bullied by strangers who don’t understand my disability and call me nasty names. Mostly though I am happy with my life and I love my family best of all. My mum and dad have told me I can achieve anything I want if I try hard enough and it’s true.

Just because I have Asperger doesn’t mean I cannot lead a normal life. In fact, out of school I have karate, swimming and guitar lessons and I am brilliant at ALL of them.

We'd like to hear YOUR story. Do you find learning tricky?

Do you know someone with learning difficulties?

Please leave your comments below, or write to us at newsdesk@firstnews.co.uk