Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 3 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 3 (2023) - Редакция журнала «Позитивные изменения»

girls. These statistics are supported by data from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Russian Ministry of Health, the occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Russia mirrors global rates, affecting roughly 1 % of the child population. This translates to an estimated 300,000 or more ASD cases diagnosed in Russia, based on the country’s 30 million children.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the only scientifically proven method for working with children diagnosed with ASD. Unfortunately, less than 5 % of children with ASD have access to this treatment. Several factors contribute to this situation, including the high cost of the therapy, which typically requires 2 to 5 years of regular sessions. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness among both parents and professionals, as well as a noticeable absence of government involvement in supporting families with children on the spectrum.

The Center for Neuropsychological Correction of Children and Adolescents is a pioneering institution located in Podolsk, and it stands as the largest of its kind in the city. The Center is dedicated to providing support and interventions for children with developmental disorders and unique developmental needs. Their services extend to a diverse range of children, from neurotypical students experiencing academic difficulties to those with speech and psychological developmental delays, as well as those affected by ADHD. Notably, the majority of the Center’s customers are children with ASD.

The Center’s goal is not just to help children with developmental disabilities to adapt to living in the society; it also strives to foster inclusivity and understanding, changing the attitude of the professional community to these children and their abilities.

METHODS USED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM

The Center operates in three key directions: ABA therapy, neuropsychological correction and speech therapy. During the initial diagnostic phase, specialists assess the child’s developmental level, strengths and weaknesses, and subsequently determine the specific types of sessions required for the child’s benefit.

ABA therapy encompasses various aspects, including:

• communication enhancement (focusing on eye contact, pointing gestures, name responsiveness, requests, and dialogic speech);

• teaching socially acceptable behaviors in the public setting;

• addressing and correcting all manifestations of unwanted behaviors, such as aggression, screaming, headbanging, biting, and more;

• fostering an understanding of other people’s intentions, sarcasm, and humor;

• facilitating potty training and the acquisition of other domestic skills and self-care routines;

• addressing disobedience and resistance to learning;

• broadening the child’s dietary preferences;

• cultivating effective peer communication and interaction, encouraging socialization and collaborative play.

“Our sessions are primarily one-on-one, following custom programs crafted for each child based on their unique challenges. Most commonly, we address cooperation and behavioral issues. Children with autism tend to resist specialist sessions, often resorting to screaming outbursts, pinching themselves and the others, and, at times, even banging their heads against the walls. Our approach focuses on motivating them to cooperate through their intrinsic interests, teaching them to complete assigned tasks, and, of course, correcting undesirable behaviors,” says Anna Nikitina, Head of the Center for Neuropsychological Correction of Children and Adolescents.

Nikitina also notes that speech-related challenges are frequent. “Many children are non-verbal, and our focus is to help them start speaking. Even if a child cannot speak, they can effectively convey their needs through gestures and facial expressions, which is entirely normal. Children with autism, however, often grapple with communication difficulties, so we work on fostering eye contact as a means of communication, employing pointing gestures to express requests, and encouraging head nodding, among other techniques,” she adds.

The Center welcomes children with high-functioning autism as well — those who can thrive in conventional schools, boasting high intelligence and well-developed speech abilities. Nevertheless, these children may face challenges in interpersonal interactions, such as difficulties understanding humor, sarcasm, instead interpreting statements literally.

Sessions at the Center for Neuropsychological Correction of Children and Adolescents are typically conducted from 3 to 6 days a week, with an average duration of 1.5 hours per session. Additionally, mentors provide guidance to parents on working with their children at home. While the structure of each session is meticulously tailored to suit the unique needs of every child, there are two universal principles that apply to every single case:

1) In every session, specialists follow personalized protocols meticulously crafted by supervisors, rooted in the goals of the ABA program. Each protocol provides a comprehensive roadmap for teaching a specific skill, encompassing the objective of the lesson, criteria for success, and step-by-step instructions.

2) Sessions are designed to captivate the child’s interest, often adopting a playful format. For younger children, these sessions typically feature a multitude of motivational tasks and games to engage and motivate the child effectively.

During each session, our specialist meticulously keeps records against a checklist. Each child has a dedicated curator, who monitors the records regularly and uses them as the foundation for adjusting and enhancing the personalized ABA program. Every three months, the curator compiles a comprehensive written report for the parents, detailing the milestones achieved during the period and formulating new goals for the next three months.

Our sessions also encompass active parental involvement. Every two weeks, the curator provides parents with a detailed work plan for the next 7–10 days via email or in-person consultations. In response, parents are expected to submit video recordings and notes documenting their at-home efforts and describing the quantity and quality of the child’s reactions. The curator reviews the submissions and returns with constructive feedback within 3–5 days. Additionally, parents are encouraged to attend their child’s sessions, which grant them invaluable insight into the specialist’s interactions and methods.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AWARDS

Victory in the Social Entrepreneur-2019 competition of social projects run by the Our Future Foundation.

Participant and award