Pocket guide helps families of children with special needs
Special Education Teacher Outi Jarimo created a starting school guide for guardians of children on the autism spectrum. Jarimo came up with the idea for the pocket guide, as she felt there was a need among guardians of children with special needs for an easy-to-use guide containing answers to the most common questions related to starting school. The guide received an honourable mention in the 2023 Mayor’s Innovation Competition.
Outi Jarimo’s workplace, Pohjois-Tapiolan koulu, is Espoo’s largest joint comprehensive school. The school also has one of Finland's largest autism spectrum units. In addition to mainstream education classes, the school of 860 pupils also has ten autism spectrum classes. In total, some 80 pupils attend these classes. Providing autism spectrum education in a centralised way enables better collegial support and knowledge-sharing.
Jarimo created the guide as part of her apprenticeship training, which was carried out in cooperation with Savo Vocational College. Jarimo completed her neuropsychiatric coach training in the spring of 2024.
“The pocket guide provides information for families and guardians whose child is starting school in a special education class. The easy-to-use guide has all the essential information on the topic. For example, it is important for families to contact Disability Services before the child starts school so that a place can be arranged for them in afternoon care for children with special needs. For parents of children with special needs, starting school can be even more stressful than usual. The guide builds trust in the cooperation between home and school,” Jarimo explains.
Opportunities for wider use
“The guide is currently available in Finnish and English, but there is also demand for other language versions,” Jarimo says. The guide was drawn up specifically to familiarise people with the practices of autism spectrum education at Pohjois-Tapiolan koulu, but it also contains more general information about services suitable for families of children with special needs living in Espoo.
The first guides were distributed in spring 2024 to families of children starting in autism spectrum classes in Pohjois-Tapiolan koulu.
Plans are underway to make wider use of the guide in Espoo. Different versions of the guide could be created as appropriate, and the next step is to improve the adaptability of the guide.
Innovation received honourable mention
The pocket guide for guardians of pupils on the autism spectrum received an honourable mention in the 2023 Mayor’s Innovation Competition’s potential innovations category. Jarimo decided to enter the competition at the encouragement of Communications Manager Susanna Nikko from the Growth and Learning Sector. Pohjois-Tapiolan koulu’s Principal Lassi Kilponen and Vice Principal Johanna Puhakka supported and encouraged Jarimo in creating the guide and participating in the competition.
The competition was a new and positive experience for Jarimo. “The best part of the competition was that I gained confidence in public speaking through presenting my innovation,” she sums up.
More information on the topic:
The Mayor’s Innovation Competition.