by Maria Giovanna Faiella
From hippotherapy to cooking and gardening workshops, from integrated football to holidays together: individual projects and group activities to encourage integration into society. «Trials» of cohabitation for the «After us» (when the parents will no longer be here)
Mario (not his real name) suffers from autism spectrum disorders. Until recently he had not left the house, a safe haven where he had taken refuge, cutting ties with the outside world. In mid-January for the first time he left for a skiing week, far from his parents and the town where he lives, spending the holiday in the snow together with operators from the Odissea – Social Services cooperative which deals with the social inclusion of young adults with mental distress or cognitive or behavioral disorders, or with autism.
Different forms of autism
Not all forms of autism are the same, which is why we talk about autism spectrum disorders; there are those who have repetitive behaviors, have difficulty communicating and interacting with others, in some cases motor coordination may be altered, in others there may be an intellectual disability.
Then the children become adults, the autism remains, and so do the problems.
Hence the importance of following people not only with adequate treatments (such as cognitive-behavioral interventions, among the most effective according to the Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents published by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità ), but also with the aim of ensuring that children become as autonomous as possible in real life. In fact, once they finish school, many cannot find work and stay at home, often in complete solitude.
Plans for an independent life
Mario’s positive experience is not an isolated case. Other young people with cognitive or behavioral problems or autism spectrum disorders manage to integrate into society thanks to individual “tailor-made” projects, based on their specific needs in the various stages of life but also based on their interests and what they like.
Law no. goes in this direction. 134/2015, «Provisions regarding the diagnosis, treatment and qualification of people with autism spectrum disorders and assistance to families», aimed among other things at encouraging the inclusion of people with autism spectrum disorders in the social and working life .
Too many times, however, the individual life plan still remains a mirage.
More sociable and less anxious
The Odissea cooperative manages day centers and family homes in agreement with the local health authority of the Lazio region, as well as carrying out social inclusion activities in collaboration with the municipal social services of the Roman territory. President Giovanni Oliveto explains: «Within our residential and semi-residential structures, we develop individual projects for the autonomy of children with autism, but we also organize workshops – for example, cooking, vegetable gardening, gardening – and also external group activities such as integrated football, basketball, hippotherapy, which support the rehabilitation process, sociality and independent living. And we have noticed improvements especially among kids with behavioral disorders – Oliveto reports -. There are those who managed to leave home after years, those who went on a cruise with other kids and operators visiting other cities without ever having a crisis, those – like Mario who seemed like a desperate “case” because, as the mother, never wanted to leave the house – he became passionate about the integrated football workshop and is acquiring the awareness of being able to do something like playing football, so the desire to live and participate in activities together with other kids has returned to him, like going on a skiing holiday or watching a football match with friends.”
The journey of Odyssey
To encourage relationships and participation of people with disabilities in the inclusive activities and workshops necessary for their psycho-physical rehabilitation, but above all fundamental to the construction of a path of sociality and real inclusion, a new project «The Journey of the Odyssey» has been launched », with the support of Morini Rent, a brand of Avis Budget Group, which has made available a minibus equipped for the transport of guests of family homes and day centers. Davide Zito, head of the Cooperative’s clinical area, explains: «Users who use our services in most cases do not have parents or family members who can provide effective logistical support to the activities».
“Evidence” of coexistence
The “after us” worries parents of children with disabilities: who will take care of their children when they are no longer here? A state law, n.112/2016, «Provisions regarding assistance in favor of people with serious disabilities without family support» provides, among other things, for people with serious disabilities without family support – or because they are parents have passed away or because they are unable to bear the responsibilities of their care – support for domiciliary care in residences or apartment groups that reproduce the living and relational conditions of the family home, in order to prevent their isolation.
«Preparing children to live on their own independently when their parents are no longer there is an objective of the “After us” project that we are carrying out with local health authorities in various districts, to immediately support the groups of children who will go to living together” reports Oliveto, who points out: “This is a delicate issue because a person with behavioral or autism spectrum disorders needs stability to obtain results; for example, in the five days in which he stays in a family home or in a group apartment with other people he is required to respect some rules; then, however, if at the weekend he goes back to his home of origin and his parents make him do what he wants, for example eating alone at odd hours, this change can cause crises in the boy.”
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February 19, 2024 (modified February 19, 2024 | 09:49)
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