Support for Children with Autism in Tajikistan

What do parents of children with differences in their development want? 

To meet a professional who will listen to their worries, thoughts, and feelings. Someone who will take the time to answer their questions about their child. A person who will help them to make plans to support their child’s learning and development, and while doing so build their confidence as a parent.  Someone who acknowledges and affirms what their family is already doing to support their child. Conversations that are filled with honesty and hope, with objectivity and without judgement.  People that interact with respect and understanding.

This week, IRODA, with support from the Open Society Foundation, hosted training for national service providers, and members of the Early Intervention and Early Inclusive Development Network from four regions of Tajikistan.  Hollie Hix-Small from the University of Portland, Oregon, presented practical training for professionals working with young children in Tajikistan.  Frequently parents of children with autism in Tajikistan report that they have felt professionals have not taken the time to listen to their concerns, judged their parenting and left them feeling hopeless and unsupported.  Through training such as this week’s event IRODA is hoping to shift the way in which professionals interact with and support families.  Professionals are being given tools to build the capacity of families to promote their children’s development and participation in everyday routines. 

As an organisation that has been founded by parents of children with autism IRODA is well placed to help shift the way in which health and education staff work with families.  We hope to continue to provide training that will mean more parents across Tajikistan have the opportunity to work with professionals that recognise their strengths, build their capacity as a family and support them to promote their child’s development in everyday life. Thank you for your on-going support as we seek to bring about change in Tajikistan… Changes in professional’s approaches, philosophies and attitudes… and ultimately changes for children and their families. 

Together we create…

 A new initiative at the IRODA Centre over the last few months has been an inclusive art club.  It has only been in recent times that awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities has started to increase. Through the hard work of organisations like IRODA communities in Tajikistan are gaining a better understanding of what life is like for children and young people with autism.  There is still a great need however for places and groups that include and involve all children.  In response to this need IRODA has started an art club and invited children from the mainstream school to come and enjoy creating art alongside their peers who have autism. 

Societal attitudes take time to change but for IRODA it is so pleasing to see this new generation of children in Tajikistan working alongside each other to create beautiful things. When, from a young age, children have the chance to spend time with others who may learn or behave differently to themselves that are more able to understand, accept and support one another. 

Thank you for your support of IRODA’s work and being part of enabling children and young people to come together and create – not only art but also a more inclusive society. 

The 29^thof September saw IRODA host an exciting event in Tajikistan to both raise awareness and funds.  Charity Ball and Fashion Show, “The Inner Voice of Beauty”, was supported by prominent Tajik fashion designer, Nafisa Imranova and musical group ‘Avesta’, and showcased the skills of young people with autism and other disabilities.

As IRODA’s work has grown the need for a centre (in addition to the rooms that IRODA uses within the mainstream school) has become essential.  There are now many young adults with autism requiring specialist support for skills development, higher education and vocational training.  To date there are no appropriate opportunities for these young adults within other services and IRODA has ‘outgrown’ the current spaces where it’s work is located. “The Inner Voice of Beauty” was part of IRODA’s ongoing efforts to highlight the skills and abilities of people with autism, as well as their own initiative to raise funds towards a Centre for Social & Professional Development for young adults with autism. 

Thank you for joining with IRODA in their efforts to raise awareness of autism in Tajikistan, and in helping to raise the much-needed funds for their growing work. 

IRODA has been thankful for the partnership of numerous professionals in the field of autism who have visited Tajikistan over the years and supported the development of IRODA’s work. Recently we were very pleased to have another visit from Dr. Karim Rajput, a psychiatrist from the UK, who also himself has a son with autism.  

With the support of Dr. Karim meetings were held with doctors, and representatives from the Ministry of Health, to continue to discuss the way forward for more effective diagnosis of autism and official recognition of the diagnosis in Tajikistan.  Dr. Karim’s support during these meetings was very helpful for IRODA in advocating for effective and efficient processes that support children and their families as early as possible. 

Meetings with parents were also held and Dr. Karim was able to provide support in particular around issues relating to adolescents with autism.  This was very relevant for the growing number of families of young adults that IRODA now supports.  Dr. Karim also has the ability to support fathers of children and young people with autism by drawing on his own personal experience.  This too has been a much needed contribution to the support of families in Tajikistan. 

IRODA has been fortunate to have connected with dedicated and experienced professionals who give of their time and energy to contribute to the work in Tajikistan.  We’re thankful for your support that helps us to host meetings, training and much needed support groups for parents in collaboration with excellent professionals such as Dr. Karim. 

• Dr Karim Training Professionals (PDF)
  

Once again IRODA is making the most of the opportunity that international autism awareness month present in April.  There is much still to be done to decrease stigma and increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism in Tajikistan. 

An exciting public event was held on April the 7^th to continue to create awareness amongst Tajik society.  Based on the theme song released by a popular Tajik singer last year during autism awareness month, the event was entitled “Dar Yak Zamin (on one earth) – You will not be alone anymore”.    With support from partner organisations (FLEX Alumni Program, ‘Peshraft’, Tajik Slavonic University, UPER, Tajik Community of Toronto, KIMEP University of Kazakstan, ‘Dushabe Molle’, ‘Dunei Nav’, ‘Ustodesign and ‘Shodi Allegria’) IRODA created an event involving music, dance and audiovisuals that captured the attention of the public and the media. 

Thank you for your support that enabled IRODA to put on a high-profile event to continue to share the message of acceptance and understanding.  We will keep working hard to see it become truly known to all children and young people with autism that “you are not alone anymore” but rather embraced by families and communities living together “on one earth”.