Funad holds events to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day

The week celebrating World Autism Awareness Day, organized by the Government of Paraíba, through the Foundation Integrated Center for Supporting People with Disabilities (Funad), opened this Tuesday (2), in the Jimmy Queiroga auditorium, with the seminar that addressed the theme “Autism and its diversities: valuing capabilities and respecting limits”. The program will continue this Wednesday (3), with a visit to Luzzco, an art space, which aims to challenge visitors’ senses through technological, revolutionary exhibitions and sensory experiences.

Throughout the day on Tuesday, experiences were shared about the model of comprehensive health care for autistic people, how to develop their capabilities and respect the limits of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), inclusion in the arts and events, selectivity food through sensory processing, diagnostic therapy as a differential in speech therapy, the differences between ASD and ADHD. Topics such as the contributions of occupational therapy were also discussed: a look at the role of autistic people.

To close the seminar, a round table was held with reports of experiences, dealing with nutritional assessment, food selectivity and microbiota, Te Acolher service, professional training, assessment of the mental health of parental caregivers of people with ASD and looking at the process that involves the autism, in the integral perception of subjects and processes.

For Simone Jordão, president of Funad, the week of activities is very important because it sparks reflection on a fairer society for autistic people. “We must break down the barriers, prejudiced attitudes and myths that hinder the relationships of people with ASD. They have full capacity to make their choices and actively participate in social life in all areas. More than a celebration, the week awakens this perspective of integration, support for families as protagonists of this fight and search for more respect, dignity and inclusion for autistic people”.

Actions– The Government of the State of Paraíba, over the last few years, has been strengthening actions aimed at autistic people, increasingly expanding services and actions with the aim of improving the quality of life of these people, contributing to their full inclusion .

Among the actions, the following stand out: ensuring multidisciplinary care at Funad, benefiting around 700 autistic people in the rehabilitation area; issuance of the Autistic Person Identification Card (CIPTEA) and Free Pass (from January to October 2023, cards were delivered to 7,131 people and this year, the Institution implemented the online request for the Free Pass and CIPTEA by creating a link for the application online, computerizing the process for requesting the license.

The “Te Acolher” service was also created for psychosocial support of family members of autistic people cared for at Funad. The service offers health care actions, with blood glucose and blood pressure measurement, beautification, cinema with popcorn, relaxation, podiatry, memory workshop, dance activities, music, crafts and various workshops, aiming to humanize the service and strengthen the protagonism of families.

And also: Expansion of assistance coverage for autistic people, through the implementation of three Autistic Assistance Centers (CAAs), in partnership with the Secretariat of Human Development (Sedh), one located in João Pessoa, Campina Grande and Solânea, serving more than 900 autistic people; insertion of new autistic users in therapeutic services, including Arts, Dance and Sports at Funad (in 2023, more than 150 autistic people were included in services, promoting a greater supply of therapeutic services.

The Government of Paraíba also opened, in 2020, the Support and Diagnosis Center for People with Disabilities (NADPD), at the Dom Luiz Gonzaga Fernandes Trauma Hospital, in Campina Grande, being a reference service in diagnosis for autistic people in the 70 municipalities of the 2nd Health Macroregion of Paraíba. In 2023, NADPD provided more than 2,772 consultations in the area of ​​Psychology alone, as part of the multidisciplinary assessment of autistic people for diagnosis. Construction of the Ana Paula Ribeiro Barbosa Lira School at Funad; Implementation, last March, of the first Funad Decentralized Unit in the Sertão, in Pombal, with capacity to serve 250 autistic people from the municipalities of Pombal, Vista Serrana, Condado, São Bentinho, Cajazeirinhas, Paulista, São Domingos and Lagoa. The service was the result of a partnership between Funad, the Department of Education, the 13th Regional Education Management, the Department of Human Development and the Inclusion Through Music and Arts Program (Prima) and will begin services in May 2024.