The SYNAPSIS Foundation

Transcription

1 The SYNAPSIS Foundation

2 General information about Foundation Mission The mission of the Foundation is to provide professional aid to people with autism and their families and work out system changes that will enable them to lead the life with respect and dignity. Main facts established in 1989 as an initiative of psychotherapists - founders (Ashoka - Innovators for the Public - members) non-governmental and non-profit organization; based in Warsaw, Poland; local and national scope of activity; the number of people with autism that Foundation supports: 350 per year; member of Autism Europe Association ( Aim Our purpose is to provide help to people with autism on every step of their life from early diagnosis to adult life stage. Only early diagnosis and intensive, complex therapy give people with autism chances to have independent life in the future. The lack of appropriate support can cause serious, repeated disability. 2

3 About autism Autism Autism it is a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. Autism influences speech and communication, social relations, behaviours and integration of senses. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. People with autism struggle with a worldʼs understanding which is for them a mass of people, places and events. It can cause a considerable anxiety for them. Most of people with autism have problems with expressing their needs and feelings, connecting with other people, including their family, they have difficulties in making friends, understanding thoughts, intentions of people. The United Nations Organization has recognized autism as one of the most important and challenging health issues in the world and established the 2 nd of April the World Autism Awareness Day. Autism prevalence In Poland autism is detected in one of 300 children; In US and UK each of 110 children is being diagnosed with autism (more frequently tthan cancer, diabetes and AIDS).

4 Areas of activities and needed support Therapy of children with autism in the Center for Children and Youth with Autism There are 350 children and youth under care of the SYNAPSIS Foundation; The center provides: diagnosis & therapy, early intervention programme, individualized therapy, evaluation and development progress; Each family is supported with information, training and psychological advice; The number of professionals is 25; The average cost of the therapy for person with autism is 5500,00 Polish Zloty per year (the cost range is from 3 500,00 Polish Zloty 8 000,00 Polish Zloty); The revenues of finances are: National Health Fund, The National Fund for Disabled People, public grants, individual donors (80% of the budget); Needed additional basic support is 18% of the budget per year which is ,00 Polish Zloty (for example annual budget of every childʼs therapy is lacking 1 000,00 Polish Zloty that donor has an opportunity to support); Every person with autism is provided with individual therapy. The programme includes work on all spheres of functioning of a child. The crucial part of the therapy is improvement of reception and integration of senses. The therapeutic programmes include work on social interaction, communication and alternative methods of communication. We also work on motor and manual development of a child. According to the needs and abilities there are both individual and group classes. Suggestions for our donors (according to the possibilities): supporting financially annual therapy of a child/children; supporting monthly therapy; supporting siblings with autism; supporting people with autism with some additional disability like blindness; 4

5 Providing work and therapy to adults with autism in the social enterprise for people with autism There are 24 people with autism working in the enterprise; Products of the enterprise: ceramics, carpentry, jewellery and stained glass, occasional cards and more; Regarding therapy there are individual and group activities improving communication skills (using pictograms, typing, leading a dialogue, nonverbal communication); People with autism are taught new professional competences in workshops of ceramics making, office work, carpentry, jewellery and stained glass making, cooking, and gardening; People with autism receive social skills training, obeying social roles in a group (for example: colleagues at work, employers, family relations). The average cost of annual therapy per person is 2 600,00 Polish Zloty; Needed additional basic support is 43% per year. Suggestions for our donors: financial support of roof renovation of the enterprise: ,00 Polish Zlotych (the roof has a constructional defect and it causes rainwater leaking; in effect one of our workshop rooms is not open to daily use); providing equipment for a IT workshop: ,00 Polish Zlotych. Kindergarten for children with autism Provides therapy and education for 28 children with autism; Suggestions for our donors: room renovation regarding speech classes rooms: ,00 Polish Zlotych. 5

6 Contact Agnieszka Fedejko mob