Daniela and her multicoloured wings to fly
Daniela has a Master’s degree in Special Education and is actively participating in an inclusive education project of UNICEF Cuba and the Ministry of Education.
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“Who says the world is black and white? Who says people are good or bad? The world is full of colours – different colours. That’s what I want to show my son or daughter when I build a family. I want him or her to know, as I teach my students, that people with autism can achieve many things because we are also full of colours.
Talking to Daniela Llanes Olivera is an injection of energy, joy and desire to take on the world. Her condition has made her more empathetic, persevering and reflective, both with those around her and herself.
Her family supports her in everything she sets out to do and has accompanied her closely, but respecting her independence. She says that her mother is the one who encourages her most to let go her wings because she trusts in her responsibility to choose. She has a unique relationship with her brother, a very particular one of complicity and respect. Her father, however, hopes that Dani will always be his little girl. “But he knows that I need more freedom, wings to be able to fly and chart my own path,” she says and laughs mischievously.
From an early age, Daniela was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and shared her first years in a nursery school with children with intellectual disabilities. She says that this approach made her more friendly and communicative.
In order to develop her language skills, she was in special education until third grade. Then, she moved on to regular education. And just in 12th grade, when she heard about autism for the first time, her life started to get on track.
“My mum was on the phone talking to someone about autism and that this was my actual condition. It was a surprise because I had never heard of it. So, I decided that when I finished high school, I would pursue a university degree to prove I could. I wanted psychology, but because of my marks in the entrance exams, I got psycho-pedagogy.”
When Enrique José Varona began his studies at the University of Pedagogical Sciences, he thought he would only be teaching and was discouraged. Then, he realised he could work with children with his condition, and his focus changed completely.
“I was happy when I learned that I would be working with children with autism and other disorders and that I could support families to understand them better, as mine did with me. I decided then, that I was going to give my best.”
“I spent five years studying and preparing my diploma paper on a system of activities for developing interpersonal relationships in children with autism. I continued it in my master degree paper, this time including a proposal for a new educational strategy.”
The capacities of teachers of children with autism in mainstream education are strengthened as part of the project and accessible resources with pictograms are created. The campaign ‘Pensar en colores’ (Thinking in colours) is being developed to raise awareness among communities, families and key actors. Daniela is the image and voice of the said campaign.
Being at university was a challenge for Daniela not only because of the content or the assessments, but also because she belonged to a diverse group.
“It was complicated, but I was able to get to know people who, even if they weren’t like me, were party people, fun people, cool people. I also had teachers from whom I learned a lot. Mirita, Odalys, Luis, Maritza Cobas... gave me knowledge and wisdom to better understand everything in special education and general education, especially that theory and practice always go hand in hand”.
Overcoming limits, accepting goals and saying yes rather than saying NO as a quick answer are characteristics that define Daniela. That’s why we see her in front of her preschool group as someone full of affection. She can also appear on social media platforms promoting her fabric puppets or at a community fair explaining handicrafts’ wonders and benefits for concentration and serenity.
In her work as a psycho-pedagogue at the Dora Alonso School, she has found a way to bring together many interests and passions. While learning about herself, she makes educational material for autistic children, guides their families and constantly improves herself.
“What I like most about my job is interacting with the children. Understanding what happens to them, what they want, what they want... Even though the little ones don’t speak, they express themselves in a different way. I think you always have to speak to them in a language they understand. With complete and understandable words, not all in diminutives...”
However, she confirms that the most challenging thing is regulating their behaviour.
“You don’t do that from one day to the next. It takes patience. You get the hang of it when you work on the child’s condition every day, considering their strengths and weaknesses,” she said.
That is why she wanted to do research on interpersonal relationships in children with autism, so that she was able to include an educational strategy for early childhood in her master's thesis.
Daniela’s story is one of power, independence, support and many wings. However, she seizes every space to reinforce it with her message of optimism and inclusion. That is why she accompanies a project on inclusive education that is being carried out by the Central Institute of Pedagogical Sciences with the support of UNICEF Cuba.
“My message to the world is not to feel sorry for people with autism. Give us the opportunity to demonstrate our abilities, skills and talents to contribute to society. Children with autism are not little animals to be trained, but people, human beings with the right to live, to study, to work. They can know more than we think and they are the shining example that we can achieve great goals.”
