C O M E N I U S S C H O O L M U L T I L AT E R AL P AR T N E R S H I P

6O GENIKO LYKEIO AIGALEO

Youtopia: Towards Participative Citizenship

Life of/living with people with special needs

Visits to Greek Special Schools and Lectures

on people with special needs

5-9, February, Brno, Czech Republic

A DAY IN THE SPECIAL SCHOOL OF PUPILS WITH MOBILITY DIFICULTIES ILION. WITNESS OF MR C. PANTELIS

On Friday, 13 December 2013, we visited the Special high school of

Ilion in thens, in the context of our work people with special needs-

disabilities, in Brno of the Czech Republic.

The visit was attended by Kongini Eirini, Kondithes Elias, Mara Stella,

Catherine Mprazioti, Dimitris Kiames, Mairy Mantzouni Maro Koulali,

Mema Admira, with escorts of Mrs A. Papaspyropouou and Mr.

Christos Pantelis.

This is a special school for pupils with mobility problems and is located within a complex of installations in which apart from the special high school and the lyceum, there are Vocational-Technical Schools, Sports facilities and even a Hospital.

It was founded in 1980 in

Pangrati. In 1983 it was

relocated in the space of

the National Rehabilitation

Institute (e. I. s. a) in Ilion,

where it lies until today.

At the entrance of our school we were

welcomed warmly to the school by the teacher

Sissy ... who had offered to help us in our

inquiry. She accompanied us there and give us

willingly useful information throughout our

visit.

Initially we met the Assistant Director of the school and we had an equally warm welcome. She gave us a sufficient description of the premises and facilities of the school, the mode of operation, the educational procedure and all the necessary for children with mobility problems tasks and activities of the school.

She also referred to the partnerships and cooperation

among teachers, parents and the local and State Bodies, as

well as to the many achievements of students and graduates

of the school, and the school events

Alongside with education, the school is provided with hospital

coverage.

The Foundation's boarding house can accommodate students

from all over Greece.

Students are transported by specially designed cars that is

property of the school, from all over Attica with the assistance

of guides and escorts, fully respecting security rules.

We learned that this is a school that each student has a different lack or a greater degree of disability and therefore required a proper

adaptation of the programme to cover learning material according to

that of the rest schools and improve moving and social abilities of

children.

It also requires skilled scientific staff (teachers, trainers, coaches,

physical therapists, psychologists, social workers), and all work with

diligence, affection, understanding, patience and love for the children.

We learned about the success of students in sports,

arts and studies, and got informed about the

significant school events, like the one a year ago in

collaboration with the Hellenic radio television.

Then we were guided to the school premises (halls, kitchen,

physiotherapy Center, gym, swimming pool). Students

themselves undertook to guide us and to provide us with

information on the operation of the school,

as happened with amazing Michael in the room with fitness

equipment and Antonis who escorted us to the swimming

pool. On our way to the swimming pool they treated us small

honey cakes melomakarona which had been made by the

school staff with the help of the students.

At the swimming pool the two trainers welcomed us with

joy and showed us the different types of exercises,

depending on each child's moving problem.

We saw all the children enjoy exercising in water, either

they were guys who just practiced in moving their limbs or

guys who did professional training,

like Constantine and Anthony who already had won three

gold medals in the category S6.

During the last two hours of our visit we spend our time doing activities

together with the students of the school. After getting knowing

ourselves better, we formed a mixed circle (some in chairs, some in

their wheel-chairs, some helped by physiotherapists) and we danced

"zoympa" following image movements by the help of the interactive

whiteboard.

Needless to say, all of us experienced a stunning experience joy and carefree time, through contact games and common discussions, which had been designed the teachers and by Mrs. Papaspyropoulou, finally ending in the "election" of a student of high school, namely of Constantine, as the Mayor. Indeed the same student played chess with our own student, Elias.

So without realizing the time passed and we

had to say goodbye.

We felt that nobody wanted to leave because

we began to feel familiar to the environment

and I think it was due to our warm reception by

all people there, both the children and staff.

We had already become friends.

In addition to the valuable information we got

through the activities within the context of work for

our Comenius program, we got lessons of power

and competitiveness from our little friends,

professionalism and diligence from the employees

in this school.

We think our students now have become more sensitive, conscientious, and empathetic towards to people with disabilities and definitely are going to be able to disseminate this knowledge to the rest of the pupils in our school and to their social circle.

By Christos Pantelis (literature teacher),

Papaspyropoulou Angeliki (French teacher,

Kapetanidou Theodossia (Mathematician-

Coordinator of the Greek Team), 6th General

Lyceum of Aigaleo.

February, 2014, YoUtopia, Towards Participative Citizenship, Brno, Czech Republic