Louis and Karen: a top team for 12 years
Celebrating the longtime friendship of Carmel student Louis Granich and his EA, Karen Blumberg.
YEAR 10 student at Perth’s Carmel School Louis Granich and his longtime friend and educational assistant (EA) Karen Blumberg make up team ‘LouKaz.’
After several other EAs came and left, Blumberg entered Louis’ life when he was four years old. Louis, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was non-verbal at the time. Blumberg, under stress from running her own speech pathology practice for 15 years, had gone to see her GP about making changes to her life.
Shortly after her doctor suggested she consider working with Louis, Blumberg gave up her practice and became his treasured companion. The pair have been a team for the past 12 years – 10 of those at Carmel.
In recent years, under Blumberg’s watchful eye, Louis does his own shopping each week, makes his favourite Vegemite sandwich for lunch every day and has undertaken work experience at Australia Post, Coles and the local train station.
Within the school, he tends to the veggie garden, hoists and takes down the school’s flags every day and takes weekly coffee orders from staff, which he passes on to the VET student baristas in the School’s Café Shemesh. The ordering process allows Louis to practise the essential life skills of communication, listening, recording and calculation.
“The benefits to all Carmel students when they take the time to help others are immense,” said Blumberg. “They have learnt to be patient and inclusive and have helped Louis develop lifelong social skills along the way.”
“Louis has become part of my family,” she continued.
When Blumberg’s daughter Jenna got married recently, she asked Louis to be part of her bridal party.
“My husband and children hear about Louis daily; his successes and how proud I am of him,” said Blumberg.
“My daughter knows what an integral part of my life Louis is and she wanted to include him.”
But the relationship is a two-way street. Blumberg remembers when she booked her car in for a service when Louis was nine years old and she was unable to recall her rego. Louis, sitting nearby, called out the number with perfect recall.
“They confirmed it was my vehicle make and model. He does this with other people and their vehicles too,” said Blumberg.
“Louis makes our school a better place,” said Dean Shadgett, Carmel head of Secondary. “His joy for life and daily interactions with staff and students are a pleasure to behold. Louis has ASD but is not defined by this; he is a young man who, with his family, continues to engage with all aspects of life to make the most of it.”
Louis’ parents, Jo and Tony, say the union between Blumberg and Louis, “represents not only a special bond but an elixir for life that warms our hearts each time we see it in action. The admiration, understanding, patience, love and care they share in this incredible relationship is formidable and has spanned over a decade now. Lou and Kaz simply adore each other.”
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