Description
Knowledge about autism is quite limited in Siedlecki district, and parents do not benefit from the basic rights their children are entitled to. Project objective is to counteract social exclusion of children with developmental disorders and equip their caregivers in knowledge and skills needed to take proper care of the children and provide them with conditions conducive to their continued development. Launch of a consultation point for parents of children suffering from developmental disorders - autism, Asperger's syndrome and related disorders; and training for 30 physicians and 200 teachers focused on these disorders, represent innovative activities that are in high demand in the project area.
Summary of project results
"The experiences of the organisation show that educational institutions fail to implement official diagnoses on disability, teachers are insufficiently prepared to work with children with autism, and parents are not familiar with the rights of their children. In Siedlce, few parents use the specialist care services (SUO). They complain that it is difficult to receive this form of support, assistance institutions lack proper specialists, and their offer is not tailored to individual needs of children. The aim of the project was to counteract marginalisation of children with autism through granting support to their parents, enhancing specialist competencies of doctors, nurses and teachers, and improving the process of granting and providing specialist care. Consultation and diagnostic assistance was provided for 146 parents having children with developmental disorders, competencies of 244 pedagogues and 47 healthcare workers responsible for early diagnostics of children in effective methods of work with autistic children and children with the Asperger syndrome were enhanced. In the City Social Assistance Centre, a positive change in attitudes towards SUO occurred. The consultation and diagnostic point was created for parents of children with autism and related disorders where phone advisory services were offered (used by 70 persons), as well as social and legal consultations (85 hours for 54 persons), speech-therapy consultations (28 hours for 34 persons), pedagogical consultations (25 hours for 26 persons), meetings with sensory integration therapist (28 hours for 39 persons), and psychological help (24 hours for23 persons). The support group was organised for parents (7 meetings, 33 participants). An informational booklet was published on how to react to developmental disorders of children (3000 copies). 11 trainings were conducted for teachers from kindergartens and primary schools (8 hours each, in all 244 participants) and for doctors and nurses (4 hours each, in all 47 participants). Legal evaluation of specialist care services were sent to municipal social assistance centres in the vicinity. The project activities benefited 146 families having children with autism from Siedlce and neighbouring counties."
Summary of bilateral results