Support for Children with Autism in Tajikistan

The month of April is a busy month for IRODA with lots of time and energy being put into raising awareness about Autism.  In Tajikistan, people with Autism are often misdiagnosed by the health system and misunderstood by their families and communities.  Since its beginnings, IRODA has placed a strong emphasis on increasing knowledge about Autism amongst professionals, and developing understanding within the community of the needs of children with Autism and their families.

Already this month, IRODA has held an event at the Dushanbe Botanical Gardens for children with Autism and their families, participated in a radio segment about Autism, and hosted a party at the IRODA Centre to which they invited neighborhood children to join with the children served by IRODA.  Upcoming events this month include the showing of a program about Autism on national TV and a fundraising concert on the 21^st of April.

IRODA has arranged for a number of Tajik public figures from TV, radio, sports, and music to meet with children with Autism.  Photographs of these meetings are being used throughout the country to portray new and positive messages of acceptance for individuals with disabilities. 

Your financial support of IRODA during Autism Awareness Month will support the organization as it works to see the lives of children with Autism changed through a more understanding and accepting society.  

On the 2^nd of February IRODA celebrated its ‘Second Birthday’ and two years of providing support for children with Autism and their families in Tajikistan.  The day was used as an opportunity to invite people to the IRODA Centre where many children with Autism come each week for therapy, support and learning opportunities.  It was a wonderful way to acknowledge the achievements of the past two years and also share with visitors from the government and non-government sectors, and the general public, the issues facing children with Autism and their families. 

Whilst providing specialised services for children with Autism IRODA continues to work towards seeing them included and supported in their local communities.  The event held on IRODA’s ‘birthday’ created another opportunity to make people more aware of what Autism is and increase their understanding of how to support children and families affected by it.  IRODA is seeking to build partnerships with government and community services that will result in more efficient and effective processes for both diagnosing and providing therapy and educational services for children with Autism.  The building of these partnerships will continue to take time and persistence on the part of IRODA’s staff and families, however much has been accomplished in the first two years of IRODA’s ‘life’ and all involved will continue to work hard to see changes that will create new levels of understanding and the opportunities that every child with Autism deserves. 

Thank you for being part of IRODA’s work.  With your support we look forward to accomplishing much more before our next ‘birthday’ celebration.