Alongside him, eight other children with various disabilities take part in the Advent circle. "We combine Christmas stories with the promotion of the senses and perception," explains Kathrin Prause. Together with a colleague, she goes round the circle - with a variety of stimulating objects to smell, hear and touch. For example, a soft cuddly sheep that can even bleat. Or little jars that smell of incense and sage. Christmas music accompanies the small group who have made themselves comfortable behind the stage in the forum of the Bethel special school. A twinkling starry sky is projected onto the blue curtains and ceiling. The teachers at the school for children and young people with disabilities, which was built with the help of donations, are very creative.
They enrich the weeks of Advent with many special teaching activities. Like Sandro Carbone, almost all of the children here today can only express themselves through sounds, facial expressions and gestures. They grasp the world through sensory impressions and with the help of trusted carers who know their body language and needs inside out. Starlights on a golden yellow blanket in the centre of the circle create a contemplative atmosphere. Sandro Carbone observes the surroundings and his classmates closely. When Kathrin Prause approaches him with a guitar and plays a well-known Christmas carol, the boy smiles and laughs. The teacher knows: "The Christmas carols touch the children. They are simply part of it."
Text: Gunnar Kreutner | Photos: Thomas Richter
