The Brazilian Association of Behavior and Intervention in Autism (Abraci) finishes this month an innovative project that has had a direct impact on the lives of dozens of families of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
The initiative, included in a parliamentary amendment and recognized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, implemented augmented and alternative communication (AAC) — a tool that replaces speech using pictograms and visual resources — in non-verbal children and adolescents.
Currently, Abraci serves 210 children and adolescents through sponsorship. In this specific project, the initial objective was to reach 45 people and train 20 professionals. But the work has expanded: 57 autistic people, aged 3 to 26, have been served and 60 professionals have been trained.
Additionally, over 30 applicators participated in AAC classes, parents were trained and all children’s schools served received visits to guide teachers on inclusive methodologies.
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According to Ana, one of the facilitators and mother of a young autistic person, alternative communication is more than a tool for expression: “It is a real tool for social inclusion. When a child uses a book or tablet with pictures to say that he wants to drink water or go to the toilet, he is communicating and is recognized by society.
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“We decided to serve everyone who signed up because we believe that society needs to understand what alternative communication is,” says Ana.
The project ends on December 20, with the presentation of diplomas to the 30 applicators who participated in the training. The event marks not only the end of a cycle, but the beginning of a new stage of awareness of the importance of AAC for the inclusion of autistic people.
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