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Independent living is a challenge for autistic children who overcome it with the help of their families. But for most families, securing a future for their children when they grow up and when their parents pass away is the biggest problem.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) in an interview about the annual World Autism Awareness Day, marked internationally on April 2 since its adoption by the United Nations in 2007, Bülent Kırgöz recounted his family’s story after his son, Yekta, was diagnosed with autism. .
In dedicating his life to Yekta, Kırgöz said that he was trying to do everything he could for his son’s education and upbringing, but he was worried about his son’s future. “The most important question is what will happen to our children after we die. We can take care of them right now, but we are also getting older. We don’t have the energy that we had 10 years ago,” he said.
Kırgöz, a retired chemistry professor, said that shortly after Yekta’s birth in 1996, they went to see a doctor following a warning from a friend, who was also a doctor, after which their son was diagnosed with autism. Having sent their son Yekta to many educational institutions for children with autism, Kırgöz said that they and other families like them decided to establish a foundation for autistic children in 2010.
The goal of the Autism Foundation, based in Turkey’s capital Ankara, was to provide better educational opportunities and raise awareness for children with autism, Kırgöz said, underscoring the need for more facilities, such as nursing homes where older people with autism may take refuge after loved ones pass away. Like the Autism Foundation, they dream of establishing a permanent nursing home to ease families’ concern for the future well-being of their children. Kırgöz said they did everything possible, including alternative medicine, to find a cure for their son, while emphasizing that they never gave up on Yekta’s education and treatment. He said that through early childhood education supported by sports activities, children with autism could reveal their abilities in certain areas, such as music and painting, depending on the child’s condition. Over time, they can also begin to take care of themselves and alleviate physical disabilities, if any.
Citing the progress they have made through education, Kırgöz said: “Yekta did not have a good balance to walk as a child. There are some problems with his joints and muscles, but I was surprised to see him skate, do electric skateboarding (now)” . . “He added that Yekta could now ride a bike with the help of his teachers at the foundation, emphasizing that he alone could not have made such progress with his son.
Underscoring the importance of autism awareness, he said his foundation provided online training sessions for families during the coronavirus outbreak.
It is often difficult to explain to children with autism why people need to stay home during a pandemic, Kırgöz said, adding that complying with curfews is difficult for children with autism, as they feel compelled to adhere to certain habits. Going to the doctor can be another problem for families who do their best to prevent infections to avoid making the trip.
Kırgöz also pointed out that children can also resist wearing face masks at school and often take them off when they feel squeezed by them.
Engin Arslan, a teacher and sports coordinator for the Autism Foundation, told AA: “As a teacher, you have to define your character very well. You determine the character of each student. While you have to be very clear to some students, it must be very kind to others. ” Noting that educating children with autism is a complicated process, Arslan said: “Sometimes, it can take years to get a child from the first stage to a certain level. For example, a certain skill can be taught to a student. every three months, while it may take a year to teach that same skill to others. ” Arslan also noted the importance of determining the needs of both the family and the child. “On the one hand, it can bring the child to a certain level, on the other hand, it can focus on the processes that facilitate the life of the family. For example, a child can often only sit for a very short time, so that families cannot go to a restaurant or visit neighbors or relatives. First of all, we, as teachers, begin with the command instruction and the sit-down processes, “he said. Arslan added that all the activities that are carried out with the Autistic students at the foundation make life easier for both families and children.
Turkish lawmakers are currently preparing a bill to address the problems faced by autistic people and people with special needs. Speaking at an event on the occasion in Ankara, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the state was determined to respond to the challenges and took the first step last year by establishing a department in the ministry dedicated to those challenges. “We created advisory boards and started projects to improve services for autistic adolescents and the education of families with autistic children,” he said. He said early diagnosis and intervention were critical in helping children with special needs and, six years ago, they launched a national scan of families for autistic children. “Since then, we have trained healthcare personnel and scanned more than 1.8 million children for autism. Eventually, more than 53,000 children were diagnosed and referred to our mental health experts. They are receiving assistance now, ”he said.
