The United Nations has recognized autism to be a disease of civilization, and some statistics show that in Poland it is diagnosed in one out of every one hundred children (www.polskiautyzm.pl, 04.2020). An estimated 190 children born in Kraków in 2019 will be diagnosed with autism. When their children are diagnosed, parents are left alone with a range of recommendations and tips. They are overwhelmed and devastated, and do not have the strength to take constructive action. In Kraków there are no centers that provide psychological care and support in planning therapy for a child for the whole family.
The project addresses the problem of insufficient support for families in which a child is born with autism.
The main measures under the project are provision of intensive initial therapy for a child and consultations and counselling for families tailored to their needs. We will provide every child with a complete psychological diagnosis and 50 hours of individual therapy sessions. For parents, we will prepare a series of workshops on the fundamental issues concerning autism, and individual support sessions. We will also launch a support group led by a therapist, and issue a brochure with an outline of children with autism, and their fate from early childhood to today.
We will provide support for ten small children (aged 18 months to four years) who have been diagnosed with autism or have suspected ASD, and for their parents/guardians (a minimum of six people) in the Małopolskie Voivodeship.
The measures will improve children’s abilities in the crucial areas of development as required to make an effective start in their preschool education. Parents will improve their knowledge of autism and be provided with emotional support.