On the International Day and Autism Awareness Month, the Faculty of Psychology and the Faculty of Mass Communication at AAB College and the Autism Association organized a round table discussion on “Autism – Psycho-social support from the community and the role of Media”.

The opening of this roundtable discussion was made by AAB College’s Pro-Rector, Prof. Shemsedin Vehapi, who among other things appealed to raise public awareness for support of autistic children and their integration into society.

Dean of AAB College’s Faculty of Psychology Mimoza Kamberi said that AAB College for many years has expressed willingness to support such initiatives, either with AAB students or through joint activities with the Autism organization, with the aim of raising awareness of people with autism.  The expert on autistic children’s therapy, psychologist Sunita Kurti, stressed that research in medicine has not yet been able to clarify the causes of autism, even though research breakthroughs have been great.  “Autistic children have communication problems, close themselves off, do not create emotional ties, do not associate with peers, fixate on an item or object, etc. Researchers all around the world conitnue to explore the unknowns of autism.” Said Kurti.

She also called for the support of autistic children today, so that they can be independent tomorrow. 
In terms of how the media in Kosovo deal with these disorders, AAB College’s Dean of the Mass Communication Faculty, Resul Sinani, has found that journalists have the sensibility and willingness to provide space for the coverage of events that have a role in raising public awareness of the needs of specific groups in our society.  

Present and ready to speak of the challenges that a mother with an autistic child experiences was Hatixhe Krasniqi. She said society should realize that there are children who are different, and that is okay.  At the end of this roundtable discussion, sensitizing messages were shared with the attending students.