Description
We are currently seeing a high increase in the number of children with differences such as Asperger''s syndrome, ADHD etc. Society is not ready to address their needs and so they fall out of the mainstream of education, employment and social life. The specifics of their differences and lack of inclusiveness in society make it difficult for them to access their needs. Insufficient understanding of these differences leads to bullying in schools, dropping out of the education (forced homeschooling or early school leaving), and families are at risk of poverty due to difficulties in educating their children. Teachers, professionals but also local government officials and public actors have lack of information and skills about the specific needs of these individuals and families. There are only a few workplaces in Slovakia that deal with the issue, while the exponential increase in the number of cases of these differences causes that they have insufficient capacity. If five children out of 500 had autism five years ago, today it is 1 child in 54 born. Diagnosis has been pending for more than a year, and therapies are almost inaccessible in most areas. The A Centrum has been providing education in this area for 5 years, has gained a good reputation and cooperates with most professional workplaces in Slovakia. The aim of the project is to create conditions for increasing the participation of young people and adults with Asperger''s syndrome, autism and other differences in social life and to increase the availability of their rights in all areas of life. Through an educational program and awareness-raising activities, the project plans to develop the skills and attitudes of experts and staff of various types of institutions, aimed at inclusive communication and acceptance of differences. Education will be provided for parents to defend their children''s rights.
Summary of project results
As part of the project, the organization A Centrum devoted itself to the support of children, young people and families with Asperger''s syndrome, as well as to the support and networking of experts who deal with this issue. The timing of the project was very good, as many initiatives were launched at the national level, which aim to increase inclusiveness in various areas of life. Thanks to the networking of organizations, the necessary information was collected and activities aimed at influencing these processes with regard to the specifics of the target group. A total of 457 participants took part in the project activities. The main activity was the creation of a network of organizations dedicated to the issue of Asperger''s syndrome for a long time and increasing its influence at the national level. The second activity was the creation of a joint educational program, which the main actors of the network will offer to groups of experts who until now did not have the necessary tools for working with this target group. This will increase the availability of care for these families and individuals. More than 147 participants and organizations joined the activities of the network. In addition, there were broadcasts aimed at presenting the professional activities of the members of the network, which have several hundred views.As part of educational activities, we implemented living libraries for 114 participants, and we created an online form of a living library in the form of 10 video recordings of stories of families and adults with Asperger''s syndrome. 225 participants visited the advocacy educational activities, one specialized educational cycle was held for parents of children with Asperger''s syndrome, focusing on increasing skills for defending the rights of their children, which enabled them to deal more effectively with the end of the school year, the pandemic impacts and the start of the new school year.The long-term impact of the project will be enhanced by the creation of the #beznávodu portal, which provides space for people on the spectrum to present their view of their own needs, thus it will be a long-term advocacy tool towards the professional and lay public. It will provide space for a network of organizations, presenting their activities in one place, and continuing mutual cooperation in influencing policies and conceptual decisions.