“EGO” – April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day

“EGO” – April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day

It’s been a second year since Georgia has started to celebrate World Autism Awareness day. Numerous events are planned for April 2nd. Benefit concert will be held at Tbilisi Concert Hall. National Symphony Orchestra and famous musicians will play musical pieces, written by Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia

World Autism Awareness Day is annually celebrated in many countries around the world by lighting up iconic landmarks of each country like Pyramids in Egypt, Eiffel Tower in France, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil and Empire State Building in USA in light blue. This campaign is called “Light it Up Blue”. On this April 2nd Georgia is joining this campaign as well and during the concert Tbilisi Concert Hall will be lit up.

Guests of this heading are the concert organizer and a parent Tamar Melashvili and the head of Children’s Multifunctional University Clinic Tinatin Chincharauli

Ms. Tamar who initiated the benefit concert?

World Autism Awareness Day is being celebrated in Georgia for a second time with initiation of parents. First time the idea came from a successful Georgian pianist David Aladashvili and Ani Danelia, one of the parents from our clinic. Back then the benefit concert was held at Rustaveli National Theatre. All of the money that was raised was used for infrastructural development of Children’s Multifunctional University Clinic. This resulted in expanding the clinic with the help of Ilia State University. Today the number of children who use the service of the clinic has grown. Mentioned event had a very big response from public and it pushed us to make this year’s concert bigger. We’ve had lot of help from representatives of Georgian government and private sector.

To celebrate the World Autism Awareness Day there are many events planned besides the benefit concert. With the help of famous painters, our children created paintings on different subjects. These paintings will be exhibited in Tbilisi Concert hall. Photograph Sasha Prishvin also dedicated a special project to children with autism spectrum disorders and tried to present their different everyday lives through a camera lens.

Ms. Tamar what massage are you sending out to public with this event?

We want this celebration of April the 2nd to become a tradition in Georgia, in order for public to be more informed about autism. One of the main problems remains relationships between our kids and public. If the public will easily receive different human beings by their sides and regard them as valuable members of society, I am sure that the problem will be solved much faster.

What are your future plans?

At this stage our goal is still to develop our University Clinic with the funds that will be raised. It will result in improvement of social cognitive skills of our beneficiaries. Besides, in result of developing the abilities of the clinic we can help more and more children overcome this problem.

Ms. Tinatin what is autism?

When a kid doesn’t react when parents call, doesn’t react on his or her name, doesn’t show what he or she wants, has limited eye contact, doesn’t share own happiness or anger, when children have a very small amount of interest, when they don’t start talking at an appropriate age or they do, but aren’t using it to interact with others, there is a chance of them having autism spectrum disorder. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which points to some change in brain function. Scientists don’t know what exactly causes these changes, hence the cause of autism spectrum disorders is unknown. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder are very different from each other for most part, but they have similar communication and social hardships and stereotypical repetitive behaviors.

Normally children with autism physically don’t differ from others. The difference is displayed in characteristics of actions, relations, talking and learning. In children with autism spectrum disorders verbal, learning and thinking abilities can display in talents as well as in hardships. Some kids need constant help during everyday life, some don’t.

Where did the idea of creating this center come from?

The Autism Center was founded in 2010, based on a memorandum signed by Ilia State University and Georgian Autism Association. Idea of creating this center came from Sophio Kereselidze, mother of a child with autism spectrum disorder. She managed to unite parents and professionals and was first to bring applied behavior analysis therapy based teaching approach for children with autism spectrum disorder in Georgia (ABA therapy). In case of autism spectrum disorders, there is no confirmed drug treatment. It is important to start observing from young age to start working with a child and parents. Applied behavior analysis based therapy is considered to be the most effective method in the world today. In most children with autism spectrum disorders, who went through intensive therapy starting from before they were 3 years old, this therapy resulted many improvements in their development.

What age group does the autism center offer its service to?

Today the Autism Center of Ilia State University’s Child Development Institute works with 52 children with autism spectrum disorders between the ages 2-14. The principal method of teaching is ABA therapy. Children between the ages of 2-7 are offered a service for at least 9 hours a week, children who are in school get at least 5 hours of service a week.

How qualified is the staff who works in the center?

There are 32 experienced behavioral therapists working in Autism Center. They were trained and supervised by the professors of Florida State University, Amanda Nicholson Adams and Marianne Jackson. The Center is directed by an alumni of Florida Technical College certificate program, Behavior Analyst Certification Board certified behavior analyst

What is the symbol of autism?

Since 1963, the symbol of autism has been puzzle pieces, as a symbol of diversity and uniqueness of people with autism spectrum disorders.

How much has the number of children with autism spectrum disorder grown over the past years?

Every year the number of children and teenagers diagnosed with autism or other autism spectrum disorders is growing. Based on the statistics of American centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder in 2014, which is 30% more than in 2012. But the knowledge about this particular disorder and its characteristics has also grown in society and professionals, and the tools for early identification have improved as well. It is already possible to diagnose an autism spectrum disorder at 18 months age, which is an opportunity to start a therapy as early as possible

Sophio Dvalishvili