The Higashi approach to educating autistic children towards independence, built on three pillars.
Stephanie Shirley's framework, from Let It Go, pp. 208 to 218.
Vigorous physical exercise
Let children work off frustration through exercise instead of destructive behaviour, and defuse incidents with a burst of it.
Emotional stability
Provide it through many highly trained staff, usually one for every three pupils.
Intellectual stimulation
Teach through repetitive, ritualistic group tuition that exploits a love of routine, keeping unused materials out of sight.
From chapter: 21. The Bitterest Pill, pp. 208–218
The Kingwood Trust brings conflict with Derek, whose protectiveness turns into suspicion of the charity's staff, and Shirley considers living apart. She directs her philanthropy toward leverage: £5m to the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, which multiplies the value of a gift by at least ten to one through volunteer expertise. A visit to the Boston Higashi school inspires her to create a similar UK school, and she buys Prior's Court for £15m. Giles dies in October 1998.
