The number of individuals with autism is increasing year by year. There is a lot of unknown information, as well as misconceptions about individuals with autism. These cause uncertainty among people, including experts in the field of mental and physical challenges.I am Aleyna Demircan, and at the beginning of 2023, I started working as a volunteer at a center for mentally and physically disabled individuals called Varstveno delovni center Zasavje. My aim was to make autism more understandable for VDC Zasavje employees. I know that with the right information and methods, the lives of many autistic children can be improved. As a play therapy therapist, I had previously worked with approximately 40 autistic children, and I believed I could make a positive impact on the local community of Zagorje ob Savi, Slovenia.
For my personal project, I developed an autism awareness program for employees of VDC Zasavje and OŠ dr. Slavka Gruma Zagorje, titled “Notice Me!” The program had two components: a seminar and a supervision activity.
In the seminar, we emphasized the importance of early intervention and how to detect individuals with autism as early as possible. We also discussed the steps to follow once we identify them.
During the supervision, I provided valuable information about therapy methods for individuals with autism and how to apply them. I demonstrated these methods through videos and recommended a book that could offer a new perspective on the topic of autism.
Participants from the school that includes individuals with autism expressed their desire for further collaboration on this topic. Moreover, employees of VDC Zasavje reported increased awareness and the acquisition of useful information that will benefit them in their professional careers.
I would like to express my gratitude to Varstveno delovni center Zasavje and Mladinski center Zagorje ob Savi for their support.
Written by: Aleyna Demircan, volunteer of the European Solidarity Corps program.
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Projekti prostovoljstva v okviru Evropske solidarnostne enote mladim nudijo priložnosti za prostovoljsko delo. Odgovarjati morajo na pomembne potrebe družbe, prispevati h krepitvi skupnosti in ob tem prostovoljcem omogočati, da pridobivajo uporabne izkušnje, veščine in kompetence za svoj osebni, izobraževalni, socialni, državljanski in profesionalni razvoj, s čimer se izboljšuje njihova zaposljivost.
Več o programu Evropske solidarnostne enote (slo. ESE, ang. ESC, bivši EVS) si lahko preberete na povezavi: http://www.movit.si/
