Learning Support Assistants

Alessia Arbustini

My name is Alessia, I use the pronouns she/her and I am originally from Italy. I am a learning support assistant here at Nelson Mandela school since February 2022. In the past, I worked with refugee minors, primary school kids and autistic teenagers. I hold a BA in Anthropology, and a MA in Gender Studies. As an anthropologist, and a future social pedagogue, I find it very important to contribute to building a more inclusive, multicultural and accessible learning environment to set the basis for a better society.

Lex Kartanė

My name is Lex and my pronouns are they/them. I am originally from Lithuania,

I am a learning support assistant here at Nelson Mandela school. I specialise in inclusion, accessibility, sensory integration, neurodiversity and autism. I am also an artist, specifically interested in representations of mental health and disability and am very passionate about disability rights and the neurodiversity movement. Moreover I really love animals. Outside of school I take care of my rescue beagle and spend days drawing, creating illustrations and working towards a more accessible future where our differences are celebrated.

Rocío Ruiz Maestro

I am a learning support assistant and am originally from Spain. In Germany I have worked as an educator in different primary schools. Since March 2019 I have worked at the Nelson Mandela School to support a variety of groups at the Primary and Secondary Campus. I specifically lend my support to autistic students. I have a degree in English, German and Romance Studies. As a future teacher I find it very important to work in the area of Integration and to find out together how to make school more accessible to them and ensure their wellbeing.

 

LSA PHOTO

From right to left Rocío Ruiz Maestro, Alessia Arbustini, Lex Kartanė