Description
The project shall offer families who are raising a child with disabilities, modern and effective method of ABA therapy. This will encourage children to be he maximum possible way independent in the future. In the Czech Republic, this kind of therapy, common in the world, is not accessible. The project educates workers who will transfer skills to parents. At the same time a manual about the ABA method and associated services for medical professionals will be prepared. This project educates therapists, who will bring acquirements to parents. Subsequent conference will help with sharing information and building cooperation between organizations and experts in the filed of ABA therapy in the Czech Republic.
Summary of project results
The goal of our project was to support families with handicapped children so that these children could grow up in their family, to introduce and promote the methods of ABA therapy in our region and our centre and thus make it available for families who need it. The project enabled us to learn the efficient method of behavioural therapy, which helps children with autism and other disorders. Behavioural therapy supplies us with efficient tools to influence child´s behaviour. We can use these methods in ambulatory care in our centre as well as in the field work in families. We know better how to deal with children with behavioural disorders, ADHD and autism. We know what to recommend to parents of these children. We compiled materials which spread information about ABA methods. We held a workshop and a conference with experienced lecturers who helped us to promote knowledge about behavioural therapy. We share our experience with colleagues in other centres. We can pass useful information on how to approach autistic children to other professionals working with the families. It was fascinating to witness how the children gradually acquired new skills, how their problematic behaviour decreased and how we found new ways to work with them. Independently from our project, many people are interested in ABA therapy, many workshops are taking place. Some centres engage elements of behavioural therapy in their care. There are efforts to establish ABA therapy as a study programme at university and the possibilities to finance ABA therapy are currently under discussion. The last two issues are mainly dealt with by The Czech Professional Association for Applied Behavioural Analysis but other centres, including ours, are involved as well. Our conference was attended not only by parents and professionals from the region but by people from all over the country. We are aware of the need for further education and good supervision.
Summary of bilateral results