Svetlana Tkachenok, an educational psychologist at the Beshenkovichi Center for Correctional and Developmental Education and Rehabilitation, talks about how to recognize the first signs and receive qualified support:

— Autism is a peculiarity of human mental development. Today, this disorder is commonly referred to as "autism spectrum disorder" or ASD. Children with ASD are sometimes called "rain children." Why? When we contemplate rain, we want to be alone with ourselves. Children with ASD are almost always "alone"...

A child with ASD is immersed in their own world, detached from reality, and cannot react to it adequately. Such children cannot tolerate prolonged direct eye contact and do not direct smiles at anyone specifically. They are indifferent to those around them but may exhibit hypersensitivity to certain sounds, smells, colors, perform sequential stereotypical actions, or repeat monotonous words and phrases. Minor changes in their environment can sometimes trigger outbursts of aggression.

For children with ASD, the surrounding world is a chaos of people, places, events, and stimuli that they cannot make sense of, which causes them severe anxiety and specific behaviors. Despite the lack of visible connection with the outside world, such children need communication, want to be understood, but do not know how to achieve it.

The appearance of a child with ASD in a family is not related to the age, education level, or nationality of the parents. More boys are diagnosed with ASD than girls. If one twin is diagnosed with ASD, the other has about a 90% chance of developing autism. The parents' task is to help their special child establish contact with the outside world.

?— How to find common ground with a child with autism?

— There are several important rules for interacting with children with ASD. Firstly, always proceed from the child's interests, do not "pressure" them; strictly adhere to a clear schedule and rhythm of their life; observe daily rituals (they provide security). The ability to catch the slightest verbal and non-verbal signals indicating the child's discomfort will help prevent outbursts of aggression and self-aggression. Avoid overworking them, patiently explain the meaning of activities, using visual information (diagrams, cards, etc.). Also, clearly structure the space where the child lives, learns, and plays, and be sure to allocate a place for a "quiet corner" where they can retreat during moments of heightened anxiety.

?— Svetlana Viktorovna, people with ASD need special support from society as well. How can an ordinary person express their solidarity and show families facing autism that they are not alone?

— On April 2nd, for example, we can support them by participating in the "Light It Up Blue!" campaign. To do this, it is enough to wear something blue or light blue, take a photo and post it on social media, using blue filters or profile picture frames. Spread information about ASD, support foundations and organizations that professionally help people with autism.

!Every person, regardless of their peculiarities, needs to live an ordinary life. It is society, not autism, that needs to be "treated": the environment and the support system should be adapted in such a way that every person can receive support and be a full member of society. This is only possible with a favorable social environment, which depends on all of us, on our loyal and trusting attitude, and most importantly, on the desire to help such children.

"Zara"