Source: nevronas.gr/ Irini Sinanidu – pre-school teacher – mother of the disabled

In June of this year, UniquAll hosted the first Autism Outreach and Awareness events for students aged 10-12 in typical metropolitan schools.

The beginning was laid… by the dream of an informed and inclusive society of people in which everyone fits…

The campaign was organized by UniquAll, and the nevronas.gr team took care of the content creation and presentation of the campaign. The team consisted of:

• Nikos Pagidas, occupational therapist, administrator and founding member
• Jota Efstatiou, actor and theater expert in charge of the group’s entertainment sector.
• Zoe Nikolopoulos, autistic adult, beneficiary of the Supported Shelter of the city’s nonprofit MoiaZO
• Irini Sinanidu, early childhood educator, mother of an autistic adult, columnist for Autism Stories.
• Popi Malesi, psychologist, editor-in-chief and founding member
• Elizabeth Laciou, Communications and Marketing Manager

On Friday, June 3rd and Tuesday, June 7th, together with Dimitris Papanikolaou – the initiator and creator of UniquAll – we entered two model elementary schools (in the center of Athens and in Goudi). Children and teachers welcomed us warmly, and their participation in the program exceeded all our expectations.

Carefully selected videos from abroad have been reviewed, edited by psychologist and editor-in-chief Popi Malesi, subtitled with the help of Gikas Melahroinos (nevronas.gr photographer-videographer) and highlighting Yota Efstathiou, who aspires to be the official “voice” of neuronas as he vocally “dresses” most of the videos on the online platform.

There were questions that we undertook to answer, ergotherapist Nikos Pagidas moderated the discussion.

The variety of questions was a pleasant surprise, and the willingness of all the children to speak up, share their experiences and even offer solutions and make valuable contributions to the problems that arose was unexpected.

In the end, we all went out together to the school yard, where children from neighboring special elementary schools hang out during recess (and this played a role in the initial selection, without being, of course, a prerequisite). There we acted out a theatrical performance under the direction of the amazing Iota Efstatiou.

The children were divided into groups, they were given conditions and instructions, they were given time to prepare, they warmed up the body and voice, and then each group presented its theatrical performance.

I confess I was impressed. Of the many hands raised when we asked, “Do you know why we’re here today?” According to the teacher, who thanked us and herself wanted to actively participate in theatrical events. From children’s impromptu offers of support and help to their autistic classmates.

Leaving, I felt complete and that I was participating in something meaningful and encouraging. Something innovative for Greek schools: the opportunity for young students to interact with autistic adults, who for the first time are given the opportunity to be heard in a school environment.

Zoya, a young autist, spoke to the children and explained how she felt and how she behaved. And it was something she seemed to enjoy very much, as did the children who discussed it with her.

These first two activities took place in the context of the program’s pilot implementation. Feedback was requested from children and teachers, which we will use as a team to correct points that could be improved, develop action and resolutely return from September to other schools in the territory … good luck!

With the best intentions, with fun, with an appetite for work, with a vision and (why hide?) with a dream of an informed and inclusive society of people in which EVERYTHING fits in …

Note. The first two pilot awareness campaigns on autism took place on 06/03/22 at the 3-bed Experimental MARASLEIO, Athens and on 06/07/22 at the 8th Primary School of Athens Athens – Goudi.

Source: neuronas.gr