As reported in the university's press release, among the participants of the conference were representatives of the Kazakhstan autism center "Asyl Muras," psychotherapists from Russia, specialists from Yerevan University (Armenia), as well as social workers, educators, and parents of children with autism from the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan.
The rector of OshSU, Kudayberdi Kozhobekov, emphasized the importance of issues related to supporting children with autism spectrum disorders and the development of inclusive education. The conference discussed topics related to speech therapy assistance for children with autism and speech disorders, as well as diagnosis, early detection, and social adaptation of autism. Participants noted that not all forms of autism require categorizing children as persons with disabilities.
Specialists from the autism center "Asyl Muras" shared their experience in using the diagnostic tool ADOS-2 and the JASPER program aimed at developing social interaction, as well as discussed their ten years of work in the program "Autism. One World for All."
According to Anara Zhanbaeva, the director of the Center for Postgraduate Continuous Medical Education at OshSU, this conference was organized as part of a project aimed at creating a speech therapy service. An important task of the project will be the opening of a rehabilitation center for children with autism based at the university's medical clinic, which will focus on early detection and comprehensive assistance.
In conclusion, specialists noted that such events contribute to raising public awareness of autism issues and open new prospects for the future of children.
