A terrifically rewarding fringe benefit for the time I spend as a Scoutmaster is the relationships I have had with boys who look at the world differently than I do. Here is a very thoughtful essay about the challenges of autism especially as they relate to social situations like school or Scouts from the perspective of Amanda Baggs who is, herself, autistic:
I’m not telling this story to make you feel bad for me as a person. I’m
telling it because assorted variants on these experiences are so close
to universal among the autistic people I’ve known. How can you get a
good idea of the social abilities or emotional range of a set of people
who are treated like this from the moment we encounter other children,
sometimes from the moment we encounter other people at all?
Scoutbase UK (United Kingdom) has an extensive and growing Library of Fact Sheets that may be downloaded in PDF format free of charge. The section on Special Needs Scouting is particularly useful;
What is the ‘praise’ or ‘blame’ culture of your
Group like? You may want to look at whether the
atmosphere is full of criticism or a constant
reinforcing of acceptable behaviour. ‘Thank you’
and ‘Well done’ need to be heard (and meant)
when talking to young people and between
Leaders too. Remember too that it is the
behaviour which is unacceptable, rather than the
young person and provide opportunities for them
to have good behaviour acknowledged. Avoid
labelling individuals as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, referring
rather to acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
This helps everyone to focus on what the problem
is and deal with it.
Flexibility is important and taking a break may
prove very successful, especially where the
individual can take time out themselves when they
recognise a problem escalating – this needs to be
seen as a positive – recognising their own need
and taking steps to address it.
It must be explained that although the list of
physical needs may seem daunting, not all young
people with Down Syndrome have all the
problems at once, if at all. Many will have learnt
to deal with the problems in their own way. Learn
from the individual by being with them and
together you will be able to bring out the best.
Obvious benefits will accrue from keeping in close
contact with the family and keeping them informed
of the young person’s progress.
I may have earned the equivalent of a few college credits related to the study of developmental, or cognitive, differences during my tenure as a Scoutmaster. What are cognitive differences? Autism, attention deficit, hyperactivity, Downs syndrome and learning disabilities of all stripes.
Before we go any further a quick distinction between disability and difference. Disabilities are, by definition, a condition that makes it difficult for someone to do the things that other people do. Difference is a way in which people or things are dissimilar. I am not attempting to be politically correct. I am using the term 'difference' advisedly to express a concept: those of us who are cognitively different from others are not incapable of thinking or doing, they simply relate to the world differently. Understanding this helped me help my Scouts
Scouting can be a wonderful, broadening, enriching experience for boys with developmental differences. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the growth and enrichment this inclusion has provided for myself and all the "normal" Scouts.
Don't treat these Scouts as patients - treat them as boys. Better yet open your heart and learn their language; you may be able to help them learn yours.
Here are a couple of resources that I have found particularly helpful.
In My Language is a short film by an Amanda Baggs explaining how autism shapes the way she relates to the world. Her blog is ballastexistenz.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a novel by Mark Haddon, is written from the point of view of an autistic fifteen year old boy. Looking at the world through as an autistic boy , seeing what he sees, thinking what he thinks reveals what seems irrational or odd to one is perfectly rational and normal to another.This revelation has better enabled me to work with Scouts identified with learning differences. It is not too much to say that attemting to understand and interpret differing points of view rather than condemning them as irrational or wrong would go a long way to solving most problems we encounter. Excellent reading. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Amazon
I would like to say that I had no reservations when, three or four years ago, I read an email from a family relocating to Kennett Square; their two boys were in Scouting and would be looking for a new troop; the older one had Downs Syndrome. I remembered how cruel my peers had been to anyone who wasn’t ‘normal’. I was concerned with how our scouts would react; I shouldn’t have been.
At a Patrol Leader’s Council I mentioned that two boys would be visiting and that one had Downs Syndrome, the scouts had no reaction whatsoever. No concerns, nothing remarkable.
Michael, his brother and his Dad showed up one Monday night and that was that. The Scouts immediately accepted Michael and his brother as one of their own. In four years that hasn’t changed. Michael is no angel; no the term ‘angel’ rarely comes to mind. Thankfully Michael’s capacity for mischief is balanced by an equal capacity for friendship. Some days Michael is pretty sure all I do is spoil his fun; usually the feeling is mutual..
Michael’s understanding of time is different from most of us and we pick up wherever we left off when we were last together.. If we were on good terms last time I get a big smile, a hearty hello and a hug and say; “Michael, hugs are for family, Scout’s shake hands”. Then I get a handshake too. If the last time I saw him I was a “mean man” I get a frown, but we both get over it.
Michael has taught me to look at the world differently, to cultivate patience and tolerance; to honor every person’s own unique nature. I would like to think that Michael has learned some of the same things from us.
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