Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Get up and going green a boost for autistic son
Dad on how school project changed family’s life
A DAD has summed up what many struggle to explain when he talks about his 12-year-old son having autism.
Rafa Wysokowski, from East Belfast, said: “Autism isn’t a sickness. It’s an element of being, a different way to live, something beautiful.”
They are words of a father about his little boy Bartek, who was diagnosed as having Autsim when he was five, and has been teaching his parents more about life than they ever thought possible.
Rafa explained: “I used to think an autistic child would sit on a chair in the corner swinging his legs.
“That would be his life. I was scared when I heard it touched my Bartek.
“Finding yourself in this situation though I’d say there isn’t a better place in the world to be than Northern Ireland for Bartek has had so much help. Longstone School in Dundonald, which he attends, does great things.
“He has been a member of the school council and eco-committee for two years and we are so proud.
Rafa moved from Poland to Northern Ireland with his wife Aga and daughter Inez in 2004.
Their family seemed complete when Bartek was born, but Aga noticed the youngster’s development was different to Inez’s. Rafa said: “Doctors told us boys developed differently to girls and to give it time. But he cried a lot and only slept about 10 minutes at a time before being on the go 12 hours.
“He was at nursery for two months when they called us in and told us they too were concerned. He didn’t communicate at all until he was seven and even then it was only in two-word sentences.”
Experts assessed Bartek and when he was diagnosed with autism.
Rafa said: “It was only when Bartek got help in a special school setting that he started communicating.
“That was a huge thing for us. Every little word made us so happy.
“It was easier for us once he was diagnosed for we knew then what we were working with.
“But it’s hard for those who don’t understand autism and I don’t think anyone in the world will ever understand it 100%.
“So how then can you know what’s best for someone with autism when you don’t fully understand it?
“That’s why if Get Up And Go Green wins the People’s Projects it would be so good for Bartek and other children like him.
“It would also allow others in the wider community to understand the condition better because people with autism do everything they can to make those around them happy.”
Stephanie Plunkett, who teaches at Longstone School, agrees and knows projects like this work.
She said: “We know pupils like Bartek and others with a range of disabilities have already benefited from similar initiatives like this.
“From these projects we have seen our pupils gain confidence, engage in our community and have an improved sense of self-worth, mental health and become more culturally aware.
“Get Up And Go Green would let us roll this out to the wider community.
“The proposed garden would bring people together from different backgrounds, age groups and experiences to learn new skills, communicate and work as a team as well as develop leadership skills.
“While interactive workshops would allow people of all ages and abilities learn about a range of issues including the outdoors and healthy eating – and all whilst having fun.”
And Bartek agrees: “I really enjoy all the things we have done in the school council and eco-committee.
“I have loved going on the trips, learning new things about looking after the environment and making new friends. I want other people to have the chance to do this too.”
Rafa said: “We should just let people like Bartek live their lives alongside us.
“We’re all different but autism makes people unique. That’s why I tell everyone Bartek is the greatest boy ever.”