“Thanks dad, happy Ale”. The first time Alessandro communicated how he felt to his parents Barbara and Marco was on vacation. After a long drive, once he arrived at the sea, Alessandro, suffering from autism spectrum disorder, told him he was happy. And he managed to do it thanks to Augmentative and Alternative Communication, which is not a therapy, as mother Barbara points out, rather “an approach that promotes communication through images”. Something written like this seems simple but for Alessandro and his family, as well as for many other boys and girls, it is a revolution.
Barbara and her son Alessandro
On the occasion of the World Autism Awareness Day, which is celebrated on April 2, we met Alessandro’s mother and we were told about their little big revolution. Started at the Benedetta D’Intino Center, born in Milan in 1994 as the operational headquarters of the Benedetta D’Intino Foundation and which welcomes over 400 children every year. \
What teenager is Alessandro?
«Alessandro is a little boy, an only child, suffering from autism spectrum disorder, not very verbal. Objectively beautiful as the sun, distorted and sought, he has made our life better. But also much more demanding. Autism is not a disease (it is true), but this condition still implies renunciations and the critical issues we face, forcing us to change our life habits, so that Alessandro can live as peaceful as possible ».
What does it mean to be a parent of an autistic child?
«It simply means being Alexander’s parents. Probably if he wasn’t autistic I would be less strict than I really am with him. Parents are not supposed to become therapists for their children, but the truth is that we have to be. The most destabilizing thing is the concern for the “after us”. Unfortunately, there are no real programs and projects, and the risk that all the work done for his autonomy will be nullified is very real ».
How did you get in touch with the Benedetta d’Intino Center?
«We met the center when Alessandro was about 6 years old, through one of our neuropsychiatrists. After an observation phase, we were quickly taken charge of. For many years we went to sessions once a week, now that both Alessandro and I are quite independent we go to supervision once a month ».
Tool for AAC
Source: Vanity Fair
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