Review
Rainman goes Europe
IX. International Congress Autism-Europe in Catania
October 8th-10th, 2010
It was a heavy rush of people when more than 1.300 participants from all over Europe and other parts of the world gathered. The crowd was almost too big for the Sicilian organisers! Once again our group from Rainman’s Home was there, too – as part of the small number of representatives from German-speaking countries. When speaking of autism the term ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is becoming more and more common internationally. Changes of diagnostic criteria are to be expected soon. Over the next few years, the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-V), issued by the American Psychiatric Association will be published in its 5th revised edition. It will add more comprehensive criteria which will put a stronger focus on the individual manifestation of ASD. Internationally, the demand to find adequate models for elderly people with ASD is growing. Especially parents have – sometimes quite emotionally and vehemently – demanded measures tob e taken to help in this kind of situation. After Anton Diestelberger, in a short response, had pointed out what Rainman’s Home had created in Vienna, there was spontaneous applause. Rainman’s Home’s successful work during the past few years did not remain unnoticed by official representatives of Autism-Europe. In three years from now, the X. congress will take place in Budapest. We are expected to comprehensively present our model there.
3. Autism Forum 2009 by Rainman’s Home
On October 16th, 2009 the 3rd Autism Forum on the topic of early diagnoses and early assistance, organised by the Research Society Rainman’s Home, took place in the Arena 21 at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna. Leading international experts in medical science, education and psychology as well as more than 200 participants discussed the necessary interdisciplinarity of autism research and in the lives of people concerned.
„The goal of this forum is to establish a closer connection between experiences in therapy, treatment and intervention on the field of autism and to enable persons with autism to lead a decent life in our society by developing new concepts of care-taking and a deeper understanding of autistic persons“ said Dr. Anton Diestelberger, Chairman of the Research Society and the daycare center Rainman’s Home, but also father to an autistic son.
Rising number of concerned
If we gross up the numbers mentioned in various articles, we have to assume that there are some 50.000 people in Austria living with a disorder related to ASD. The key to success when dealing with autistic persons is based on a general concept combining medical, psychological and pedagogic aspects. An early diagnoses is crucial. But the diagnosis has to turn into a „diagnosis of comprehension“. The reasons for the „phenomenon autism“ are still unexplored.
Holistic concepts are needed
Only if we learn to see and understand the specific traits of an autistic existence can we successfully work with persons who have to deal with a disorder related to ASD. This is why early diagnosis and early assistance is so central. And it’s also the motto under which the 3rd Autism Forum took place on October 16th. In the course of this seminar-like forum experts from different fields discussed problems of working with these special people. Brigitte Rollett presented a comparison between the early development of healthy children and the development of children with autism. She highlighted the importance of early support provided by emotionally attached persons, primarily parents, to the children affected. Fritz Poustka presented diagnostic procedures that are currently used the most, internationally. Therese Zöttl’s descriptions, which were especially taken note of, explained the central apsects that make pedagogic work successful and thus form the basis for any kind of educational occupation with people with special needs. Monika Lang empathetically described the situation of families concerned. Lawrence Scahill from the University of Yale presented results of medical research that clearly showed that the use of medication (Risperdol) along with special training for the parents and adequate methods only has an effect in the long run. During the seminar sessions, Anton Diestelberger impressed the participants by demonstrating the aspect of parents concerned in a very sensitive way. Acting according to a certain concept leads to more successes and eventually to some kind of liberation in many ways.
Therese Zöttl’s statements will certainly be remembered: autistic persons are no self-teaching persons; they have trouble finding a beginning and an end; new things can frighten them – this is why they must not just be confronted with them but have to be almost seduced to face them.
The idea of deliberately combining theory and practice, as it was presented mainly by Therese Zöttl, Monika Lang and Anton Diestelberger, deeply impressed the participants. Many have asked to focus more on these aspects in der following forums.
The symposium was presented by the renowned Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist Georg Spiel.
Note:
Summaries of these articles are now avaible for download.
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