Teacher of children with autism

A teacher who teaches young children is rare, yet Mr. Le Thanh Sang (36 years old, Trieu Tai commune, Trieu Phong district, Quang Tri province - now Trieu Co commune, Quang Tri province) has given up his job at a secondary school to diligently teach, care for, and bring smiles to autistic children at the Binh Minh Inclusive Education Development Support Center (Nam Dong Ha ward, Quang Tri province).

Special Class

"Hello, child! How are you feeling today? Are you ready for class?"

Those were the loving words of Mr. Sang as he entered the classroom, preparing for his lesson. After the greetings, he would play meditation or relaxing music for the students. He shared: "When greeted like that, it varies from child to child; some will react immediately and greet me back, some will react more slowly, and some will simply say 'sir/ma'am!'" Mr. Sang felt happy about this and he repeated that greeting in every lesson.

Teacher Sang teaches his students how to read and write. Photo: provided by the author.

Mr. Sang's lessons are always conducted in very special ways: creating a suitable learning environment that is quiet, not too noisy, and without too many toys or overly stimulating materials that could distract children. Activities must be appropriate, broken down into smaller parts, not too long, and combine static and dynamic activities. Rewards and encouragement are given promptly and appropriately, and children are given breaks in between lessons.

After graduating from Hue University of Education with a degree in mathematics education, Mr. Sang worked at PaNang Secondary School in Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province (now Dakrong Commune, Quang Tri). After many years of working at PaNang School, in 2019, he resigned and applied to teach at the Binh Minh Center for Inclusive Education Development Support after a friend's recommendation. Although this environment was completely unrelated to his field of study, Mr. Sang decided this would be his destination.

Teacher Sang guides students in identification. Photo: provided by the author.

Driven by a love for children and an understanding of the struggles of parents whose children have developmental disorders, the teacher wishes to contribute a small part to supporting and helping children with developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorder to integrate into society and become independent in the future.

Because he lacked formal training in teaching children with autism, Mr. Sang obtained a teacher training certificate in inclusive education for people with disabilities, learned from colleagues and reputable websites in this field, and regularly attended professional development courses organized by the center.

Recalling his first day working at the Binh Minh Inclusive Education Development Support Center, the young teacher confided: "When I first arrived at the school, I was assigned to teach the older class, with students aged 9 to 18, and this was the class with the most challenging age group to teach… In the beginning, the children weren't used to the new teacher, so they weren't cooperative, interaction was difficult, and the teacher didn't fully understand the children's needs. In addition, the children had behavioral issues, so I felt quite pressured." It took him two months to get used to the practical work: being a teacher and caregiver.

Witnessing the changes in her child thanks to Mr. Sang's teaching and care, Ms. Tran Thi Hoa (parent of 13-year-old PTHH) said: "After a year of studying here, I see that my child has made more progress than before. She knows how to proactively say 'please' when she wants to eat or likes something, she knows how to greet her parents and teacher when arriving at and leaving class, she knows how to concentrate and study with her mother for 30-45 minutes, and she knows how to eat a variety of vegetables and fruits..."

Mr. Sang is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher who deeply cares for his students. In his work, he always strives to help students achieve the best possible results, constantly empathizing with the difficulties faced by young children and willing to do any job that benefits them.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tinh, Director of Binh Minh Center for Supporting Inclusive Education Development

Hopefully, this will be a gateway to a brighter future for these children.

Mr. Sang's classes are typically one-on-one. On average, he teaches 7-8 students each day, ranging in age from 1 to 18 years old. Each student has a different disability, but Mr. Sang proactively researches and adapts his teaching methods to the child's needs, abilities, and interests. Recognizing each child's unique strengths, Mr. Sang teaches by leveraging those strengths to support their weaknesses: children with autism learn well through visual aids, children with intellectual disabilities learn visually, and children with Down syndrome interact well socially. Additionally, some children with special talents (drawing, singing, etc.) receive support and training to develop their skills.

The teacher also doubles as a caregiver, taking care of the students' meals. (Photo: provided by the author)

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tinh (Director of Binh Minh Inclusive Education Development Support Center) shared: "Mr. Sang is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher who cares deeply about his students. In his work, he always tries to intervene in ways that help the children achieve the best possible results, always concerned about the difficulties faced by young children, and never hesitates to do any job that benefits them."

Furthermore, he connects with various departments to help with career guidance, job creation, and future career development for children. Among his students, several have successfully integrated into the community and are performing well in primary schools. Dozens of children have seen their disabilities improve from severe to mild and are progressing towards social integration. He hopes that he and his colleagues will be a stepping stone, helping these children prepare for the future.

Despite facing many hardships on his journey to impart literacy to children with disabilities, Mr. Sang has never considered giving up or regretting his choice. What always worries him is society's perception of children with disabilities. According to him, every child born into this world is a source of happiness for their family; they don't have the right to decide their own destiny, but they do have the right to change themselves. He hopes that every parent will always be there to support and care for their child, helping them discover their unique qualities.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thay-giao-cua-tre-tu-ky-185250725195017716.htm