When peers turn ‘teachers’ for young adults with autism

For close to two years, Sanjana D was the music and movement facilitator at CanBridge Academy, a spa

For close to two years, Sanjana D was the music and movement facilitator at CanBridge Academy, a space for young adults with autism. One might ask: What is so special about that? Fresh out of college, having pursued her bachelors in psychology, Sanjana was an unconventional facilitator who engaged her students, who were as old as her, by playing the piano and being a buddy to them.

“When I started, I was a little unsure about how it would go but the experience has taught me a lot including the fact that music can be a powerful medium of communication,” says Sanjana, who is pursuing her masters.

Shortage of special educators to work with adults with learning disabilities has given institutions working in this space an opportunity to bring youngsters on board.

Twenty-three-year-old Smrithi Ashraf has a full-time job with an MNC and is also a mentor for neurodiverse students enrolled at HashHackCode for coding classes. “I joined as an intern during the start of the pandemic when I was in college and this association continues,” says Smrithi, who in the last two years has worked with 10 students, each with different disabilities.

She says a mentor has to adapt as per each student’s medical condition. Two youngsters, one on the spectrum and the other with Down’s Syndrome, are among the older students she has coached. “One would call me during no-class days to discuss topics the way friends discuss things and the other wanted to become like me in coding and would try hard to understand the concepts,” says Smriti.

Some of them throw tantrums and have their mood swings, so if you are able to manage them then it’s big achievement, says Smriti.

HashHackCode has more than 40 mentors in the age group of 20 and 25 years enrolled with them. They are taken after a stringent selection process where the candidate’s patience is also tested. They also get a renumeration for their work.