Three North American specialists in the social integration of autistic children from Bradley Hospital, Rhode Island, will attend a seminar on Autism: diagnosis, treatment and interventions which will take place at the University of the Azores on September 18. This initiative is promoted by the Regional Association of the European Youth Parliament – Azores with the support of the Regional Secretariat for Labour and Social Solidarity, through the Regional Directorate for Social Solidarity.

This event features the exhibition of a video developed by one of the North American specialists during a session with autistic children, through which viewers will be able to observe some of the practices developed and studied at the Bradley Hospital, an institution specialised in autism disorders. In this context, this hospital showed willingness to provide free consultancy services, via Internet, to Private Social Solidarity Institutions as well as to the associations dealing with autistic children and youngsters, thus allowing an exchange of experiences and working methods.

Speaking at the press conference for the presentation of the seminar, the Regional Director for Solidarity and Social Security, Natércia Gaspar, said that “we must work hard on the acceptance of parents, providing them with the skills to enhance the development of autistic children in family context.”
For Natércia Gaspar, this initiative embodies the policies defended by the Government in the area of disability, mainly in the promotion of equality of opportunities for all.

According to her, this event aims to be “space for sharing and learning.”
“We have established a wide collaboration network at almost an international level, which is very good, taking into account the time in which we live. We must all join hands and share these concerns by caring about those who are different,” stressed the Regional Director.

The Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism – São Miguel and Santa Maria, specialists from the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital as well as experts in Special Education are other guests of this seminar which comprises a theoretical and practical component.

At the occasion, Natércia Gaspar also praised the vitality of the Regional Association of the European Youth Parliament – Azores and the support of the media in disseminating this event aimed at the promotion and integration of autistic children and youngsters.