"My ideal teacher would have great awareness of my needs. I would like them to be
organised and patient as these are things that I like in
"I want to meet my classmates before joining the class. I would say that I am an
individual who thinks he is important. I feel that I am important because I have
so much happiness. I would like to have the Jewish Torah in the room. I would like
to have a computer.”
Overseas Residential School - We searched for a school with vision and ambition who
were prepared to enrol the most challenged students. The school we found had many
of the necessary qualities and helped Joshua become more self sufficient and in control
of his behaviour. However, his intellectual abilities were not recognised mainly
because he was not given an effective means of communication. They did not believe
in Facilitated Communication and would not allow Josh to use it. He missed out by
the absence of appropriate role models and the separation was hard not only for Josh
but also his family.
When Josh came back to England, a home based education system was set up.
Marian Stanton- Is the lead trainer and assessor at CANDLE communication and learning
enterprises. She helped develop Joshua's Facilitated Communication skills as well
as train his team of PA's; her assistance in differentiating his education curriculum
at school was invaluable.
Religious High School- Joshua's life was enormously enriched by the time spent at
this school. This serves our local Jewish community and provides both religious and
secular studies. Joshua spent some time in the classroom amongst his peers but was
able to learn on a one to one basis in a less challenging environment from a sensory
point of view when necessary. He was able to forward relationships with his peers
to their mutual benefit. Some of these friendships have endured. Please click here
to view Joshua's prize giving presentation.
Yeshiva- It was great for Josh to be a Yeshiva student because learning is important
to him. He is welcomed and hopes to be increasingly involved. "Yoni and Aaron teach
me Torah in Yeshiva and improve my quality of life.”
Bais - Josh was recently given a room in a Synagogue, where he is free to come and
go as he pleases and make uses of the library and facilities as required. Josh goes
there daily with Rafi and Reuven where he prays and studies a range of Jewish texts.
Josh also benefits from having study partners, who come to his home weekly to learn
various aspects of Judaism:
Eliyahu Nizovsky is a graduate of the Shaarei Torah Yeshiva. He has known Josh for
over five years having worked with him initially as a PA.
Reb Zev Pozonavski has been learning with Josh at home for the past six years. Together
they have covered a number of books, the completion of each of them has been marked
by a celebratory meal, or ‘Siyum’.
Higher Education
Josh has also recently began to study at The University of Bolton, where he has just
completed a module in Diversity and Difference in Education. His fellow students
have been very supportive. Josh owes a lot to Joe Whittaker and Rosemary Gallway
for making this possible.
Here is Josh handing in his completed essay: “Social Attitudes to People Who Cannot
Talk With Special Reference to Facilitated Communication.”
