The first generation of children in Romania diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder is slowly reaching the age of self-representation. Until now, events were organized for them, but in the next period we will see more and more events and projects in which they will make their own voice heard.
Article by cristina.rusuApril 2, 2024, 06:00
The Little Prince Resource and Reference Center from Bistrita started this year, involving teenagers and young people who were his students in organizing the program for world autism awareness day.
On April 2, from 5:00 p.m., the people of Bistri are invited to the foyer of the Palace of Culture, where they will be able to participate in chess and Rubik’s cube challenges, but they will also be able to test the autism simulator again. With details Ana Dragu, the center’s coordinator:
Andrea Nagy: You have news in the program this year.
Ana Dragu: The novelty is that, both in the organization and in the support, people with ASD participate: children, young people, adults from our center.
Andrea Nagy: Now that they are a bit older…
Ana Dragu: Now that they are a bit older, we co-opt them in absolutely everything. Some of them will participate in the actual show: that is, they will sing, recite, tell stories. Before the show we will have a workshop section, where anyone interested will be able to play chess with one of our children, or compete in solving the Rubik’s cube. We will again have a section of children’s cooked products and a tapestry sewing workshop; we capitalize on all the talents they have.
Andrea Nagy: With these chess and Rubik’s cube challenges, aren’t you afraid that you will reinforce certain stereotypes?
Ana Dragu: No, because we will have children from the whole spectrum there. For example, our chefs at the cooking club are all with very severe forms of autism. In the spectrum we have very different shapes.
Andrea Nagy: The autism simulator is coming back this year. How were the reactions last year? last?
Ana Dragu: Very good and we are invited all over the country with him, last year we organized small actions only around the simulator. People are impressed; including the parents, who say that they would not have realized that their children see the world this way. The autism simulator consists of 3D glasses and videos, which reflect the atypical way in which people with autism experience the world from a sensory point of view. What is possible, sure: the noises, the lights. The videos show different scenarios: in a mall, in a classroom, walking down the street.
Andrea Nagy: What surprised you the most when you tried this simulator?
Ana Dragu: The overstimulation overwhelmed me (I’m slightly sensitive to noises and lights anyway); the fact that the attention is not focused on the relevant things in the environment, but is required by any stimulus, the fact that the noises are amplified, the lights are intermittent is an overwhelming experience.
Andrea Nagy
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Tags: Including Autism Awareness Day celebrated challenges Bistrita
