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Drwy fy llygaid i - Jon Roberts

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‘Mae’r llyfr hardd a dymunol hwn yn cyfleu

gwir bleserau bod yn awtistig,’ meddai

Alan Gardner, cyflwynydd y gyfres deledu

The Autistic Gardener

Gwerth addysgiadol/educational value: ◉◉◉◉◉

Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◉◉◉◎

Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◎◎◎◎◎

Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◎◎◎◎◎

Iaith gref/language: ◎◎◎◎◎

Rhyw/sex: ◎◎◎◎◎

Hiwmor/humour: ◉◉◎◎◎

Her darllen/reading difficulty:: ◉◉◎◎◎

Oed diddordeb/interest age: 3+ Oed darllen/reading age: 5+ (ond yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer plant hŷn hefyd)

 

Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Graffeg

Cyhoeddwyd/released: Awst 2020

Pris: £7.99

ISBN-13: 978-1912050079

 

Dyma lyfr hardd a syml wedi ei ysgrifennu gan dad sy’n ceisio esbonio mwy am ei ferch, Kya, sy’n awtistig. Mae’r ysgrifen liwgar wedi ei gosod ar gefndir gwyn felly nid yw’r tudalennau’n teimlo’n rhy ‘brysur.’ Roeddwn yn hoff o’r ffordd y mae’r ysgrifen yn dod yn fyw gan ffurfio patrymau hyfryd sy’n cyfleu’r teimladau a’r emosiynau. Mae gwaith celf Hannah Rounding yn gain, yn lliwgar ac yn gweddu’r llyfr i’r dim.


Pan gafodd ei ferch ifanc ddiagnosis o awtistiaeth, penderfynodd yr awdur, Jon Roberts, o Abertawe ysgrifennu’r llyfr hawdd-i’w-ddarllen yma ar gyfer rhieni, athrawon a disgyblion er mwyn eu haddysgu am y cyflwr. Mae’n anodd i blant awtistig ddeall y byd o’u cwmpas, ac weithiau, mae’r pobl o’u cwmpas yn ei chael hi’n anodd eu deall nhw. Mae’r llyfr ein helpu i weld y byd drwy lygaid person awtistig, felly mae’r teitl yn addas iawn.


Fel cyn-athro, byddwn wedi gwerthfawrogi gallu defnyddio’r adnodd yma gyda fy nosbarth, ac yn sicr byddai wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol er mwyn fy helpu i gefnogi plant tebyg i Kya oedd yn fy ngofal. Un peth sy’n bwysig ei nodi yw nad ‘How-to manual’ ar gyfer awtistiaeth yw’r llyfr. Mae awtistiaeth pawb yn unigryw, yn arbennig, ac yn cael ei gyfleu mewn ffyrdd gwahanol. Bydd rhai o’r pethau yn y llyfr yn siŵr o fod yn gyfarwydd, ac eraill ddim.


Os nad oes gan bobl brofiad uniongyrchol o awtistiaeth, gall fod yn beth dryslyd ac mae nifer o gamsyniadau’n bodoli amdano. Tydi pawb ddim yn deall rhai o’r ymddygiadau a thueddiadau ac mae’r llyfr yma’n help mawr i unrhyw un sydd am wybod mwy. Fe gynhwysir rhestr o gysylltiadau hynod o ddefnyddiol yng nghefn y llyfr hefyd.



Er ei fod yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer rhieni ac athrawon, daw gwir werth y llyfr o’i ddefnyddio fel sbardun ar lawr y dosbarth gyda phlant ifanc. Drwy gyd-ddarllen y llyfr, gall yr athro neu riant arwain sgwrs am awtistiaeth drwy helpu’r plant lleiaf i wneud cysylltiadau a’u byd nhw. Gellir defnyddio’r llyfr fel cyflwyniad mewn gwasanaethau boreol ar y thema o awtistiaeth, ar ddiwrnod awtistiaeth y byd er enghraifft.


Soniai’r llyfr am rai o’r heriau a brofir gan Kya ei hun (e.e. ddim yn hoffi sŵn uchel a bwydydd â gwead rhyfedd) ond ar y cyfan, cawn ddarlun positif iawn o’r cyflwr. Mae'r llyfr yn dangos ei bod hi'n gallu bod yn ofalgar ac yn annwyl, ac yn mwynhau'r un pethau a phlant nad ydynt ar y sbectrwm, fel hufen iâ! Dathliad o’n gwahaniaethau a’r hyn sy’n ein gwneud yn unigryw yw’r llyfr ac mae’n adnodd gwerthfawr sy’n haeddu lle ymhob ystafell ddosbarth. O'm profiad i, chewch chi neb mwy goddefgar na phlant ifanc (maen nhw’n well nac oedolion yn aml iawn) ac maen nhw’n derbyn fod rhai plant yn wahanol, ac fod hyn yn beth da.


Mae fformat syml y llyfr yn ei wneud yn ideal ar gyfer ei addasu yn ôl yr angen. Er enghraifft, byddai rhiant a phlentyn yn gallu creu fersiwn personol o’r llyfr sy’n unigryw i’r plentyn. Dyma rywbeth fyddai’n ddefnyddiol i roi i oedolion dieithr sy’n dod i gyswllt â’r plentyn e.e. athrawon llanw, arweinyddion clybiau tu allan i’r ysgol.


Mae ’na heriau ynghlwm â magu plentyn awtistig wrth gwrs, ond mae yna lawenydd mawr ac mae’n bwysig cofio hynny. Nid yw awtistiaeth yn diffinio’r unigolyn. Tydi plant awtistig a’u rhieni ddim yn chwilio am sympathy chwaith – y peth gorau gallwn wneud i help yw gwella ein dealltwriaeth ein hunain o'r cyflwr. Dyma ychydig eiriau a ddaeth gan y wasg sy’n cyfleu’r llyfr yn berffaith:


“Y gobaith yw y bydd pobl eraill, sy’n profi llawenydd a heriau awtistiaeth yn eu bywydau, naill ai’n uniongyrchol neu’n anuniongyrchol, yn gallu uniaethu â’r stori hon ac ymgysylltu â hi. Fel bodau dynol, rydyn ni i gyd yn unigryw ac yn werthfawr, a dylem anwesu a charu’r gwahaniaethau hynny â’n holl galon a’n holl enaid.”

Dyma erthygl ddifyr gan y Book Trust sy’n sôn mwy am Kya a’i thad a sut y daeth y llyfr i fodolaeth:



Diolch Jon (a Kya) am rannu eich profiadau ac am helpu eraill drwy wneud hyn.

 

This is a beautifully simple book written by a father who is trying to explain more about his daughter, Kya, who is autistic. The colourful text is set against a white background so the pages don’t feel too 'busy.' The writing comes to life as it forms interesting shapes and patterns that convey the feelings and emotions. Hannah Rounding's artwork is delicate and colourful and is very appropriate for the book.



When his young daughter was diagnosed with autism, the author, Jon Roberts, from Swansea decided to write this easy-to-read book for parents, teachers and pupils in order to teach them about the condition. It can be difficult for autistic people to understand the world around them, but equally, the world around them sometimes just can’t ‘get’ them. The book helps us see the world through the eyes of an autistic person, even if we only get a glimpse of what it’s really like.


As a former teacher, I would have appreciated being able to use this resource with my class, and it would certainly have been useful for me personally, so that I could better understand the children who were in my care. One thing that is important to note – this is not a 'How-to manual' for autism. Everyone's autism is unique, special and will present in different ways. Some of the things in the book will no doubt be familiar, others not so much.



If people do not have direct experience with autism, it can be a confusing thing to grasp and there are a number of misconceptions surrounding it. Not everyone understands some of the behaviours and this book is a great help to anyone who wants to know more. A list of extremely useful links is also included at the back of the book.


Although useful for parents and teachers, the true value of the book comes from using it in the classroom with a young audience. It can be used as a springboard for discussion, under the guidance of the teacher or other adult. Children may have some prior experience with autism or they may not. Regardless of this, it will be an useful tool in order to facilitate discussion on acceptance, tolerance and diversity. What a great tool to have to hand in a school assembly on autism, such as on world autism day for example.


The book mentions some of the challenges experienced by Kya herself (e.g. not liking loud noises and strangely textured foods) but on the whole, we get a very positive picture of living with autism. It shows that Kya can be loving and caring, and likes many of the things that children who are not on the spectrum do, such as ice cream! The book is a celebration of our differences and what makes us unique. It is an extremely valuable resource that deserves a place in every classroom. In my experience, young children are the most accepting and tolerant, (they are very often better than adults) and they accept that some children are different, but that is a good thing.


The simple format of the book makes it ideal for adapting it as necessary. For example, a parent and child would be able to create a personalised version of the book that is unique to the child. This is something that would be useful to give to unfamiliar/new adults who come into contact with the child e.g. supply teachers, out of school club leaders.


There are challenges in raising an autistic child of course, but there are great joys and it is important to remember that. Autism does not define the individual. Autistic children and their parents are not looking for sympathy eitherthe biggest help I think we can give is to educate ourselves and others and gain a better understanding of it. Here are a few words from the publishers that sums up the book well:


"It is hoped that other people, who experience the joy and challenges of autism in their lives, either directly or indirectly, will be able to identify with and engage with this story. As human beings, we are all unique and precious, and we should cherish and love those differences with all our heart and all our souls."

This is an interesting article by the Book Trust that discusses Kya and her father and how the book came into being:



Thank you Jon (and Kya) for sharing your experiences and helping others in the process.

 


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