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The image of a nanny using a blanket to cover the mouth of an 8-year-old girl crying during nap time was captured on camera in Da Nang. Photo: Cut from video .

The feelings of a parent

Recently, public opinion was outraged by the image of an autistic child being pulled by the hair and beaten by a teacher at the Institute of Psychology and Special Education , Cau Vong Son Tra branch (Da Nang city).

The incident was posted on social media by the parent whose child was abused. After the responsible agencies began investigating, the People's Committee of Son Tra District said that the Institute of Psychology - Special Education - Rainbow Son Tra Branch at 83 Ton Quang Phiet Street (where the incident of the nanny abusing the autistic child occurred) had not been licensed to operate.

Through social networks and newspapers, many parents whose children study at this facility have expressed their indignation. A parent residing in An Hai Bac ward, Son Tra district, whose child has autism studying at the above facility said: Children with disabilities cannot protect themselves when abused. After this incident, my family does not dare to send my child to any autistic child care center anymore. Because if I continue to go to school, I do not know if my child will be abused or not? The incident that happened at the Institute of Psychology - Special Education - Cau Vong Son Tra Branch made me and many parents angry.

Sharing the same situation with an autistic child, in recent days, Le Thi Thu Thuy (My Dinh, Hanoi ) and her husband have asked around their acquaintances and searched for information on social networks about quality autistic intervention places. Thuy said that her child is almost 3 years old but refuses to speak, only occasionally saying 1-2 words. Previously, because they had to work far away, they left their child at home with their grandmother so they could not keep close watch on their child. Seeing many people advising them to take their child to the doctor, she hurriedly returned to her hometown to pick up her child and brought him to Hanoi.

“Hearing the news that autistic children are being abused, we are also worried. But if we do not send our children for intervention, the risk of negative consequences is also very high. The family will carefully research where to send their children so that they can quickly integrate. We know that taking care of special children is quite difficult, but when deciding to take on this job, the teachers must prepare mentally and understand the psychology of each child. Parents trust the center, thinking that the teachers will love and know how to educate their children, so they let their children study. In return, the teachers treat them like that, it is too cruel” - Ms. Thuy shared.

Focus on recruiting teachers to teach autistic children

Talking to PV of Dai Doan Ket Newspaper, psychologist - Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam - Vice Principal of the University of Education (Hanoi National University) said that autism is one of the types of disabilities in children, characterized by difficulties in social interaction; verbal and non-verbal communication, repetitive stereotyped behavior. In which: Difficulty in social interaction is shown through not responding back and forth, not playing interactive role-playing, not imitating, not interested in playing with children of the same age, not demanding adult attention;

Communication difficulties are manifested by: Not communicating to direct the attention of others. Little or no use of gestures, little or no eye contact. Not responding to sounds, name calling. Not saying 2-word sentences by 24 months. Language loss later.

Difficulty in behavioral shaping is shown through: Not knowing how to play role-play or imagine. He always plays alone, plays the same game over and over again in ways that are different from everyone else...

Because of such difficulties, not being aware of what is happening, not being able to speak, not being able to express fear, strange repetitive behavior that makes others uncomfortable and angry. Meanwhile, their self-defense skills are limited, so they are easily misunderstood, easily subjected to violence and abuse from people around them.

According to Mr. Nam, when caregivers commit acts of violence against children, it will cause serious injuries. The children suffer psychological trauma, leading to anxiety and fear, becoming panicked and attacking their parents because they are afraid to go to school or to see teachers.

To minimize the risk of autistic children being abused, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that what needs to be done is to focus on recruiting teachers to teach autistic children. “Centers recruiting teachers to teach autistic children must carefully consider both professional competence and moral qualities, to ensure the safety of autistic children during the care and education process,” Mr. Nam said.

“The minimum competencies that teachers need to have to work effectively with autistic children are knowledge of the characteristics, causes, and manifestations of autistic children, the ability to apply effective intervention methods based on scientific evidence, and the ability to create individual educational plans and implement those plans.”

In addition, this expert also emphasized that teachers must also have the ability to manage inappropriate behavior, correct behavior and apply positive discipline. In addition, teachers also need effective teaching skills, the ability to coordinate work with experts such as psychologists and speech therapists, and train and engage parents in the educational process.

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In addition to these abilities, teachers of autistic children also need qualities such as patience, love, and forgiveness towards children, enthusiasm and passion for teaching autistic children, and the ability to adapt flexibly to each child's temperament...
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam

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