“A colorful road trip”: the wonderful story of Montpellier resident Sandy Tournier with a student with a disability

Sandy Tournier, qui a su avec ses mots, conter l’accompagnement d’un élève en classe Ulis. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

She reveals through her book "Ulis" his epic journey within National Education with its difficulties and its riches and especially his meeting with Saïd who ultimately turned his life upside down.

Sandy Tournier is one of those characters who at a single glance make you think they have lived a thousand lives. As if they magnify each adventure and experience.

It must be said that this brunette with deep eyes has touched a bit of everything. Radio, notary work, before going through theater, Treize Vents, Avignon, she even created her own company, before leaving for training in the knowledge of secularism after the attacks.

And then comes Covid. "During this period I sat down and told myself I would try to help. This is where the adventure began."

Projected into a Ulis class

She will therefore offer her services to become AESH – these famous staff who support students with disabilities. She will quickly be sent to a college in Montpellier and there, as if sucked in, she will not be able, as she describes, to extricate herself. "From my arrived, I didn't plan to stay. It wasn’planned but I got trapped."

And four years later – she followed one of the students until the end, from 6th to 3rd in Ulis class – localized unit for educational inclusion, it is still there.

From this "singular experience, both exciting and difficult" and on this extraordinary relationship which gave birth to in them unexpected resources, she wanted to write a book. "A true story, a colorful road trip."

An honest and sincere testimony book. DR

This is how, over the pages, she will tell in a very poetic way this journey within the school, its mission, its difficulties, this dive at the heart of an education system that is poorly adapted, but ultimately which, thanks to the kindness, commitment and patience of educational staff, can give results.

"The goal is not to denigrate, on the contrary. It’s an honest and sincere testimony, it’s my story. But it’s also a plea to show that the school can achieve this."

The meeting

But this story is also that of Saïd (borrowed first name). This college student was, "like her, her return to 6th grade". He was assigned this student. "But what a student!"

"At first he was very withdrawn, he didn't talk to me. He was suspicious but very lucid." It must be said that at that time, there were masks, barrier gestures which were very significant.

Yet this duo formed by the force of circumstances will have to tame each other. And that time will be long: a year for communication to finally take place. "We got to know each other. There was an attachment but with a distance. Saïd is so intelligent, he shows such humor, he is subtle, she declares with sparkling eyes. "We get along so well, we are accomplices." And to describe his pride in the way he has evolved: "Like a flower. I had a closed button which opened little by little to today give a magnificent daisy with petals which will be able to fly away."

A before and an after

And when we ask her what ultimately emerges from this "journey", she shamelessly confides: "This mission m" ;rsquo;made me discover unsuspected things: patience, composure, altruism. What will remain of all this is joy, pride towards him and towards me. It’s a great life experience."

Before specifying: "It also changed my outlook on disability. Today I see the human being before her disability." As if her humanist values ​​which have always guided her had increased tenfold. "I like to tell myself not to look down on myself so as not to then raise my head in shame."

She also now has a different look at teachers and the teaching environment "full of respect, consideration for what they do, l&rsquo ;the self-sacrifice they demonstrate, the ability to channel dilated egos."

She will soon leave her place in this adventure. Saïd will return to second general and she will fly off to other horizons. Hoping to have convinced, through this book, some to take the plunge and integrate this world full of hope that is school.

"Ulis" by Sandy Tournier at Librisphaera Maison d’ éditions, 196 pages, 18 euros. I subscribe to read more