Teaching Assistant Giselle Lobo has a long history of working with autistic students. Originally from India, Giselle earned her teaching degree at Boston University. “The first time I experienced inclusive education was when I was doing my practicum, and it was this ah-ha moment,” she said. “I knew it was something I wanted to take back to India.”
After earning her degree, Giselle went back to India and started life skills resource rooms within the school system. For the first time, disabled students were partaking in activities with their neurotypical peers. She worked very closely with parents and focused on daily living and life skills, both inside and outside of the classroom. The program had positive benefits for both the developmentally disabled students and their neurotypical peers.
“At the time, they were using nicknames for people with developmental disabilities because it was just part of the language. But regular sensitization for students and teachers brought about changes in attitude and language. Students even told their parents how to use respectful language when talking about disabilities. They wanted everyone to think twice before they made fun of such people in the village. They brought an amazing awareness to everyone.”
After working in India for 20 years, Giselle moved back to the United States, determined to keep helping students. Eden was the perfect fit.
“This is a place where students are guaranteed an individualized structured program based on scientific principles and evidence-based research,” said Giselle. “That is critical in the world of education.”
She is currently working in the Transition classroom, where the Lead Teacher Arielle Debira encourages Giselle to think outside the box to help students.
“Arielle is very creative. She has allowed me the flexibility to work with my students and do more in terms of helping them access their programs in creative ways,” said Giselle.
Giselle has made little changes to programs that have created huge effects on her students’ progress — modifying a reading program from flashcards to a book or adjusting how a student uses their iPad to count.
Giselle has received support from staff across the Eden School. Director of Clinical Services Nikole Mauger noticed Giselle’s interest in ABA and encouraged her to pursue her BCBA. “Working for people who encourage me to push forward and to use ideas that are out there in the world of research, it is amazing,” said Giselle. “The teachers, the behavioral team, the clinical team — they are all super supportive. They want you to enhance your skills.”
From the staff to the programs, Giselle feels lucky to work at Eden. “Eden takes care of its employees and is constantly looking to provide their students with learning opportunities for independent living, which is so important. We’re in a class of our own.”