Education Key to Raising ASD Awareness in Georgia, US Experts Say

Every year, we are witnessing a rise in the number of people diagnosed with autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Out of every 68 children, one is diagnosed with autism spectrum (CDC, 2014). And Georgia is by no means an exception, where the numbers are also on the rise.

The Saint George Autism center, under the aegis of the Child Development Institute at the Ilia State University in Tbilisi, is the very first such institution in Georgia and uses the world-acclaimed Applied Behavioral Analysis methodology. For four years now, a Czech NGO, Caritas Czech Republic, has been cooperating with the Institute, with funding provided through The Czech Development Agency.

The Caritas project is all about aiding the development of services available to people with ASD. In five regions of Georgia, family doctors took part in training sessions dedicated to the issue of early stage identification of ASD. The role of primary health care cannot be underestimated here – the earlier the pediatrician becomes aware about possible autism spectrum disorder, the sooner early intervention can take place, which will offer much better chances of a positive outcome for each and every child.

The scope of the project also involves the qualification enhancing and retraining of the professionals working in this field, thus ensuring that people with ASD have access to quality services. This was exactly why two seasoned experts from the United States visited Georgia in July and August. For two weeks, the personnel at the Child Development Institute were under the tuition and guidance of the US professionals, with the session culminating in a three-day intensive training dedicated to age-based behavior among children with autism spectrum disorder. The training was available for specialists from the regions, too, which is a much needed reprieve as most regions lack both infrastructure and technological knowledge for dealing with such a complex issue.

Professor Marriane Jackson and JP Moschella are the employees of California State University in Fresno State, US. Both experts boast years of experience in applied behavioral analysis and ASD. And they aren’t first timers when it comes to Georgia, either. Since 2010, when the autism center at the Ilia University opened, both experts paid multiple visits to Tbilisi to take part in various trainings and seminars. And as with every good tradition, it has borne quite a fruit - in those 6 years, around 300 students from psychological faculties of various Georgian universities were able to get their hands on beyond-basics know-how on what ASD is and how to effectively handle it.

But despite such endeavors and notable progress in enhancing the accessibility of services available to people with ASD, Georgia is still some distance from what is considered desirable worldwide. Prof. Jackson, while talking with GEORGIA TODAY, even went as far as comparing the situation in Georgia with what of the US some 20 years ago. However, she added, just like in America, the way is upwards from there, with society becoming more and more aware of the needs and specifics of people with ASD.

“First thing to do is to make these services accessible everywhere, not just in Tbilisi, where people encounter financial difficulties. Second, the awareness of parents should be raised – right now, many of them do not know where to get adequate services, or which government structure they have to address to get financial aid. Likewise, the medical staff doesn’t have enough knowledge when it comes to delegating children with ASD to proper structures,” the professor stressed, with her colleague adding that Georgian society still harbors some stigma over the issue.

“Once again, it begs a comparison with the US twenty years ago, when the situation was very similar,” Mr. Moschella mused. “But as increasing numbers of children with ASD were accommodated in schools, their schoolmates, their parents and society as a whole got more aware just how important these issues are.”

A simple truth it may be, but both experts insist that education is key. More education is required at every step of ASD management – parents, pediatricians, teachers, psychologists – all could do with more knowledge. More so the state structures, which have to design appropriate strategies for this issue. Additional emphasis needs to be made on lifelong care for people with ASD, an aspect left entirely without attention today in Georgia.

“In developed countries, many activities are carried out to help these people integrate more easily into society – Georgia shouldn’t be an exception,” said Rusiko Chkhubianishvili, the lead manager of Caritas Czech Republic’s autism oriented project. Let’s hope that, together with friends from abroad and the good will of the powers that be, projects like these will be expanded, as they rightfully deserve to be.

Vazha Tavberidze