Benefits of drama in education classes

05 July 2009  By Martha Kearns

Donal Burke, 17, was in senior infants when it became apparent that he had problems relating to other children in the class. However, it was many years before he was diagnosed, as he did not demonstrate many of the classic signs of Asperger Syndrome (AS).

‘‘It wasn’t immediately obvious because he didn’t have some of the classic signs, like being fascinated or obsessed with things. He didn’t tick all the boxes, so he was harder to diagnose," said Donal’s father, Eamon.

Donal lives with his parents, Eamon and Ann, in Celbridge, Co Kildare, and has three brothers – Eoin, 27, Conor, 24, and Cian, 13.

Donal is one of those who participated in a Trinity College Dublin research project, which looked at how drama in education could help students with AS.

Eamon said that, after one year attending the classes, there was a noticeable difference in Donal’s ability to adjust to social situations.

‘‘I was beginning to think that he would not be able to survive in formal schooling. One full year after being in the drama in education classes, he went into secondary school. To our amazement, while he found it difficult, he survived the first year. Then he went on and did better in the second year and did a very good Junior Cert," said Eamon.

Transition Year (TY) is normally a major issue for students with AS, as they like order and rigidity, and TY is designed to be fluid and more like the real world.

‘‘He ended up getting a prize for being the runner-up student of the year in TY. He is now starting the senior cycle and I’m not as worried about how he will get on," said Eamon.

Donal’s mother, Ann, added that there was a lack of services to help those with AS with their social skills.

‘‘They don’t just naturally acquire these skills, they have to be learned. I spend hours on the phone to the Department of Education trying to get resource hours, and only got it because I wasn’t working at the time and spent every day ringing them. You have to fight for everything – even to get a diagnosis," said Ann.