Special Needs Children’s Therapies

Ion Puican, 18.05.2024, 13:19

Between May 24-26, in the city of Brașov (central Romania), the event “Therapies gallery: inspiration for the opportunities of children with special needs”, the 3rd edition, takes place. The event is organized by the “Albert and smiles” association, and aims to create a space where families and specialists, therapists, and motivational speakers can communicate, exchange ideas, and connect for a better and more inclusive future for children with special needs.

We spoke with the organizer of the event, the president of the “Albert and Smiles” association, Endre Csato:

“Therapies Gallery” is an event dedicated to families with children with special needs and therapists, education specialists who have concerns in this area. It’s an informational, connecting event, with a lot of positive energy and somehow pure emotion, to give confidence to this community that it’s worth investing in these kids, that they deserve to reach their potential, and that’s why we we’re all somehow here to help them.”

Where will the event be held and how can the public interested in this topic participate? Endre Csato tells us:

“The “Therapies Gallery” event will take place in Brașov, between May 24-26, within the Coresi community. Registration for this event, both in physical format and for the online viewing option on the platform, can be done on galeriaterapiilor.ro.”

What was the feedback of the two editions of the “Therapies Gallery” project carried out so far?

“The feedback received from the participants and speakers of previous editions encouraged us to continue this approach, because everyone felt that in this event there is, in addition to information, in addition to connecting with families and specialists, in addition to many other experiences related to the activities, there is that positive energy, there is that confidence that it is worth it to make every effort for these children, to help them become better, to become as close to their maximum potential and to enjoy this journey towards this goal, for, of course, their best possible integration and their valorization in society.”

What is the need of Romanian society today, in relation to children with special needs and their families? The president of the “Albert and smiles” association tells us, sharing his life experience with his son, a child with special needs. Here is Endre Csato:

“The need that we feel in society, in this field, is that these diagnoses or a diagnosis that a child, at birth or later, receives, is such a blocking point. It is an element that somehow makes families get overwhelmed by this diagnosis, they feel that their life is over, that there is nothing positive from here on, that there is a lot of uncertainty. We would like families to get over this moment and feel that there can be a beautiful life, and much, much joy in the life of a family that has such a child with special needs. Romanian society, at the moment, is going through a period of transition, I would say, from denial, from exclusion, to a moment when these things seem to change, become current, more acceptable, as if we feel that society becomes a little more prepared. It’s a long way, but I think the first steps have been taken, and better things are happening in this regard. Of course with the challenges and downsides that are inherent on any road. But I think what’s important is that there something a bit better. This somehow teaches us life with Albert, our child diagnosed with Down syndrome, that it is worth being happy for every small step forward. And that’s what we do.”

What do the organizers want from the “Gallery of Therapies for Children with Special Needs” event?

“After the event, we really wanted the participants, both those who will be physically at the event, and also those from the online environment, to feel as if they have more hope, as if they have more confidence, and certainly more information to help their children, help the families with children with special needs.”

Finally, Endre Csato tells us how the project will continue in everyday life:

“The continuation of this event will be the development of an online platform where all this information and more will become accessible to the entire community. We are currently talking about 100 thousand families who have a child with special needs in Romania.”