Support for Children with Autism in Tajikistan

In February, IRODA hosted its second annual Central Asia Autism Network (CAAN) conference, which brought together parents and professionals from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. During this three-day event stakeholders participated in training and discussions that will help move the work among people with autism in Central Asia into new and exciting areas.  Conference participants benefited greatly from presentations given by guest speakers from Bangladesh, India, and Russia. Likewise, the staff of IRODA left the conference energized: hearing from others who have pioneered improvements in autism care despite facing the same types of challenges that exist in Tajikistan, has brought both a renewed hope and excitement for the future of IRODA.

Immediately following the conference, Tajikistan reached a milestone in the treatment of autism. The national Ministry of Health and IRODA came to an agreement that will allow IRODA to train professionals at the key diagnostic centers in Tajikistan in the administration of an autism diagnostic tool.  Since beginning its work in 2010, IRODA has advocated for both official recognition of autism in Tajikistan, and for national use of an evidence-based diagnostic tool for young children. The recent decision from the Ministry of Health has been a great encouragement to the IRODA staff and families who continue to work hard and persevere through many challenges to see the situation for people with autism in their country transformed.

With support from the Ministry of Health and improved processes for diagnosis, IRODA anticipates that the number of children correctly diagnosed with autism at an early age will increase rapidly.  Your continued support allows IRODA to provide these services to children and their families in Tajikistan.  As IRODA staff and families celebrate milestones and moments that will change the future for people with autism in Tajikistan, we hope that you too can share in the excitement of being part of an organization involved in such ground breaking work.

Thank you once again for your support.

Since the beginning of it’s work IRODA has invested time and energy into raising awareness of Autism in Tajikistan.  IRODA has done this in a variety of innovative ways that have captured the attention of the general public and portrayed new and positive messages about Autism and disability in general.  The most recent example of this is IRODA’s involvement in a fashion show held on the 3^rd of December, the “International Day of People with Disability”.  

IRODA partnered with other organisations to host a fashion show that included and celebrated people with disabilities and their family members.  Mothers and children from IRODA were part of the spectacular event that brought disability to the forefront in a beautiful and optimistic way that challenged the stigma and negativity that has tended to exist in association with disability in Tajikistan.  With the support of local businesses, non-government organisations, the media and well-known Tajik models and personalities the event captured the attention of the general public and contributed the process of societal change that will see people with disabilities included and valued within their communities.

As IRODA takes such opportunities to increase awareness and promote the positive ways in which children with Autism can be involved in their local communities and increased numbers of families want to be involved in IRODA’s work.  Currently there are more children known to IRODA than there is time, staffing and resources to support them.  Please consider if you can continue to partner with IRODA by donating via the GlobalGiving site so that more children and their families benefit from the support, understanding and opportunities that IRODA can offer.