Description
In Romania, the number of children with autism spectrum disorder integrated in mainstream school remains low. The project aims at increasing access to social and educational integration services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Romania. A complex program to prepare 100 children with ASD for school integration is proposed by the project, in partnership with 10 local authorities (General Directorates for Social Assistance and Child Protection in Romania) and with State Diagnostic and Counselling Center Iceland (SDCC). A multidisciplinary collaboration to address the issue of low enrollment rate among children with ASD will be initiated among child protection local authorities, family and school. 100 parents of students with ASD will receive information and support in order to build a good relationship with the school. Since social and educational integration of children with ASD also depends on the abilities of the public service professionals, the project aims at developing the skills of 130 people involved in the project (100 teachers and 30 psychologists/pedagogues) through training sessions and study visit information sharing.
Summary of project results
In Romania, the number of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) integrated into the educational system is very small and the available training programs for teachers are insufficient. The project aimed at increasing access to social and educational integration services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) through a training program for teachers and providing schools with educational materials and supplies. A model of inter-institutional cooperation between public social services and special and mainstream education services was developed, bringing together teachers and psychologists from social services that provide therapeutic interventions for children with autism. 28 professionals of the ASD centers from the 10 project partners attended the course on working techniques for school integration of children with autism spectrum disorders. 108 teachers and 23 professionals from the ASD centers attended to the training on Methods of working in class with children with autism spectrum disorders, held by three trainers from Iceland. 107 children received specialized intervention for school integration or dropout prevention. 111 parents received mediation services for school integration and information on the child’s progresses and methods for working at home. Representatives from each project partner attended a study visit in Iceland including visits to special schools, kindergartens and schools for mainstream education and various social services for people with autism. "The guide of school community" were printed and distributed in print and electronically to parents, teachers, professionals and other interested persons. The electronic version is available online at:
http://integrare-scolara-autism.ro/resurse/.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner from Iceland, SDCC - State Diagnostic and Counselling Centre, had a major contribution in coordinating and organizing the study visit in Iceland and the three trainings for professionals who work with ASD children (teachers and psychologists). One study visit in Iceland took place from the 20th to the 24th of September 2015, with one representative for each project partner. The visit agenda was developed by the partner from Iceland and included visits to special schools, kindergartens and schools for mainstream education and various social services for people with autism (short term residential centre for children, training centre for people with disabilities, daily and residential centers for adults, work placement service for ASD adults). The visit aimed to identify successful models in social and school integration of people with autism in order to replicate them in the Romanian system. The solution Iceland found and implemented is the unit, a special classroom within the mainstream school, spatially organized by TEACH principles. 108 teachers and 23 professionals from the ASD centers attended the training "Methods of working in class with children with autism spectrum disorders." The course was held in three series in October 2015 and was presented by three trainers from Iceland. Also, representatives of SDCC, the partner from Iceland, participated at the conference to promote the project activities, conference that took place on 5th of October 2015.