Zoé, diagnosed with mild dysphasia, encountered great difficulties in mainstream education. Destitute at first, his parents finally chose specialized education in a small school in the province of Liège. A decision that profoundly changed Zoé’s life.
The young girl began her school career in kindergarten “without any worries”but as soon as he entered primary school, the first difficulties began to emerge. “Zoé began her primary school career over two years with a teacher who, thinking she was doing well, decided to apply a new learning method. Unfortunately, this method did not bear fruit”explains Jérôme, Zoé’s dad. The little girl, although enthusiastic, begins to lose control.
In second primary, the situation does not improve. A year marked by “multiple changes of teachers due to repeated absences. Which did not help his development”. Despite their efforts to support their daughter, the parents see difficulties piling up, and Zoé is automatically thrust into third primary school.
This is when concerns become more serious. “We are starting to notice that Zouzou is encountering difficulties. Despite this, we follow our Zouzou with the help of his new teacher. Things are falling into place and we believe in them”says his father. However, at the end of the third year, the difficulties persisted and a diagnosis was finally made by a speech therapist: Zoé suffered from mild dysphasia, a language disorder which mainly affects the understanding of sentences, texts and writing. Despite this diagnosis, the school considers that Zoé has the capacity to progress in fourth year despite “very limited points”.
Parents, however, are asking more and more questions. “We have big doubts about this move to fourth grade. The school is trying to do its best, we are positive and we are giving ourselves every chance with positive thoughts.” Unfortunately, it is in primary four that everything changes. “That’s where we lose her. Her bright smile gradually disappears. Frustrations build up, loss of self-confidence sets in and her backpack becomes loaded with more and more stones than she can handle. ‘finally can’t carry anymore’remembers Jérôme.
Parents have difficulty hearing that their children must follow a non-ordinary path, a path different from others
At the end of the year, the school offers to make Zoé repeat a year, but the parents do not see this as a solution. At that time, “Zoe is extinct”says his father. That’s when they make an important decision: consult the PMS center for an outside opinion. “After having discussed at length with several teachers, it is a fact that parents have difficulty hearing that their children must follow a non-ordinary path, a path different from others. Teachers also have difficulty broaching this subject out of fear to upset or frustrate parents All parents must be ready to hear this kind of advice and realize that it is not abnormal to be out of the ordinary.he insists.
After consulting them, the PMS then offered them a specialized school: Sainte-Marie Language Classes, located in Ramioul. If this proposition surprises the parents at first, they ultimately agree to visit the establishment, despite some persistent questions. “We can immediately imagine the school with problem children, but problems much bigger than those of our Zouzou. We ask ourselves the question, but has this lady from the PMS really understood our problem?”
From the first visit, their doubts begin to fade away. “That’s where the magic started to happen. We were very well received there. We were understood instantly when explaining our Zouzou’s situation.” During the second visit with Zoé, the warm welcome from the school and the explanations convinced the little girl. In September 2022, Zoé begins her schooling at Sainte-Marie. Very quickly, the parents notice a transformation. “From the first weeks, we saw the return of that dazzling smile that we missed so much, as well as that self-confidence”relates Jérôme.
At Sainte-Marie, Zoé is surrounded by support adapted to her needs. In fact, the establishment is a type 8 school, specializing in language disorders, where each child develops at their own pace in a caring atmosphere. Classes are organized according to level of knowledge rather than age, with a maximum of ten children. This allows each student to progress according to their abilities, “in a reassuring climate of acceptance of others and trust.” Zoé spent two years there in total, between 2022 and 2024.
The supervision of the teachers, speech therapists and the on-site supervisor was simply fantastic.
Today, the young girl has been able to regain her self-confidence and has returned to mainstream education.“In September this year, Zoé returned to a mainstream school in primary 6”announces his father. Parents who are proud of his journey and all the progress made thanks to Sainte-Marie school. “The support from the teachers, the speech therapists and the supervisor on site was simply fantastic. Our Zouzou’s bright smile gradually returned, his frustrations disappeared and we found our little lady full of confidence”they rejoice.
Through their testimony, they wish above all to address parents of children in difficulty by inviting them to “push the doors of advice organizations” in order to be guided. “We believe that a majority of people imagine a clear path for their children. With our experience, we would tend to tell you to forget this well-trodden path. Every human being is different, we must adapt to the needs of the child, because their smile is the most important“, concludes Zoé’s dad.
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dysphasia schooling special education
