Privolgskiy Center of Mental Health

Project idea

The "Happy Parenting and Childhood" project is aimed at creating a system of remote support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families living in areas remote from large cities. It is a comprehensive information and education online platform providing access to specialized services and materials.

The main goal of the project is to provide quality help and support to families raising children with autism. The project is designed to increase the competence of parents in the issues of upbringing and development of children with ASD, as well as to provide them with psychological support.

To accomplish these goals, the platform will offer the following resources and services:

• Video lessons on key child development topics such as joint attention, play skills, speech development, imitation, toilet training and more.
• Textual materials containing useful information and recommendations.
• Individual development programs drawn up after a face-to-face diagnosis of the child.
• Weekly online meetings with parents to discuss progress and adjust the program.
• Checking homework assignments and analyzing videos sent in by parents to assess the child's progress.

 At the initial stage, 12 families will be involved in the project, which will allow the support mechanism to be thoroughly tested and the effectiveness of the approach to be evaluated. The platform will also provide a venue for webinars and workshops that are accessible to a wide audience of parents and professionals. This will provide an opportunity not only to gain knowledge, but also to share experiences and best practices in working with children with autism.

In the long term, with successful implementation and proof of effectiveness, the project methodology can be recommended for scaling up and application in other institutions and regions.

This project is an innovative approach to education and support for families facing autism and seeks to create a sustainable and accessible system of care that can be adapted and expanded to reach more families in need. The project promises to be a significant step in improving the quality of life for children with ASD and their families, especially when traditional resources are limited or unavailable.

Relevance

In Russia, as in the rest of the world, it is recognized that children with ASD need special education and social adaptation.

The importance of such support is underscored by the UN resolution and scientific research that speaks to the need for early diagnosis and effective therapy for children with ASD.

But in places like the Nizhny Novgorod Region, home to 516 children with autism, services are concentrated in cities, and many families, especially in remote areas, are left without the help they need. This is due to the lack of qualified specialists and techniques to help children.

The project proposes a solution to this problem through the creation of an Internet platform for remote support, which will allow families to access quality assistance despite geographical remoteness. This is especially true in a pandemic when face-to-face meetings become difficult.

Experts from the Privolgskiy Center of Mental Health with the necessary knowledge and experience will provide parents with guidance and support through this platform. In this way, parents will be able to better understand and support their children using methods whose effectiveness has been proven by research.

Supporting this project is important because it aims to improve the quality of life for children with ASD and their families by providing them with opportunities that were previously unavailable due to a lack of resources in their area. This not only helps specific families, but also contributes to society as a whole, making it more inclusive and caring for each of its members.

Social effect

Improving the quality of life of children with ASD and their families living in the Nizhny Novgorod Region through the creation of an information resource, remote consultations of parents with experts, and training of specialists.