Daniël finds 'his kind of people'

Audrey Vermeulen has been an occupational therapist at Jan Kriel School since 2018. Her eldest, Daniël, was 6 years old at the time. In Grade R, Daniël's teacher noticed that, although he is very creative, he usually does not follow the instructions given to him. In Grade 1, he burst into tears one day. "Mom, I am naughty in school. I don't listen carefully when the teacher speaks." Upon inquiry, Audrey realized that Daniël had difficulty concentrating and then escaped into his own world of daydreaming. At the age of 7, he was diagnosed with ADHD.

From her profession, Audrey knew that Daniël needed help. He received Occupational, Speech and Physiotherapy while Dr. Adri van der Walt, a pediatric neurologist, prescribed medication and began walking a path with him. She found that Daniël is on the autism spectrum (ASD) and later realized that he has a learning disability too. School attendance got a little better.

“Daniël was always brave and gave his best, but we didn't always realize at what cost. His grades were good and we were able to put the necessary assessment accommodations in place for him, but the social environment was very difficult for him. He experienced his challenges and 'being different' as mistakes and felt he was naughty because he couldn't sit still, look at the teacher and listen like the other learners. His creativity and 'outside the box' ideas and nature were also not always well understood.”

In Grade 2, his bottom literally fell out. Emotionally, he could no longer handle the pressure and physically, he could no longer attend his mainstream school. A private school and homeschooling during Covid helped. In Grade 4, his family moved to Kuils River and here he attended a local primary school with good learner support for a short time.

When I talked to him about my work at Jan Kriel, he often said; "That sounds like my kind of people" . As he grew older we were able to talk to him about how his brain working differently and why certain things are difficult for him, but also how other things are much easier for him than for others. I was able to explain to him how we at Jan Kriel help learners overcome their challenges with reading and writing and, in collaboration with his support team, started the application process for Jan Kriel School. And from then on my child blossomed!

Audrey & Daniël Vermeulen

He has regained self-confidence in his abilities and is taking ownership of his work. The change on a social and emotional level is the best for me. He no longer experiences daily anxiety and stress, which allows him to grow and develop to his full potential. In the Intermediate Phase he has learned many skills to be able to work independently. The way in which work is presented and the support he has received in class has helped him to use his strengths to learn and not just overcome his challenges. The fact that staff and fellow learners understand and accept him helps him to be able to fully express himself in all aspects of school. The provision of assessment accommodations is also a very positive factor and very well organized.

Daniël and his classmates celebrate World Book Day 2023

“Our learners (and Daniël) inspire me because they don't give up. They keep believing and keep trusting and keep giving their best. I learn so much from them every day and it is a great privilege for me to have the opportunity to see the world through their eyes. And when you see what dragons and giants they conquer daily, you can't help but love and admire them.” Audrey Vermeulen, Occupational Therapist and mother.