On May 27 last The Silp lights up blue is now in its third edition. Seven hundred participants, mostly children, took part in the event that was created to raise awareness of autism and other diversities. This year was enlivened by the collaboration of 7th Flight Department of the State Police of Oristano Fenosu and by numerous associations. “The goal is to get out of the usual days that remember specific disabilities. And raise awareness among institutions and citizens even on an ordinary day ". This is what he says Daniele Rocchi Silp Provincial Secretary of Oristano and creator of this great party born in 2018. “There are associations from all over Sardinia. Many young people from every area of the island were able to participate through gods bus made available ".
The Silp lights up blue: when diversity is tinged with joy
“When my daughter was born nine years ago, I was initially distracted by this disability. I lit up blue with a path of introspection and this is where this event takes its name. Today I would like to be an example for other people who hide from the eyes of autism. I did a little bit of everything " - explains Daniele Rocchi. “Even the choreographer for the ballets; I called the artists and chose which ones to intervene, for example clown therapists and super heroes. We cops danced and sang too. In Oristano we wrote a beautiful colored page of solidarity and on the island it was a social stage".
"The associations come from all over Sardinia: from Oristano, Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro, Olbia etc. Every year we give them something that is not merely cheap. But tools that may be needed, for example electronic devices for cognitive recovery donated in recent years. This year we donated gods tandem which can make a disabled child feel like riding a bicycle. The educator positions himself behind, hugs the child and leads the tandem, while the disabled boy takes the seat in front with his commands. To their warm participation is added that of the Silp ".
"A tandem was donated by me, yet another by the Foundation of Sardinia. Another from the Camera del Lavoro of Oristano, two from the Rotary Club of Oristano and two from the Eleonora's Garden. " - explains Rocchi. "In all of this, associations of women who are fighting for breast cancer also participated ”.
An hour of entertainment and entertainment conceived by Silp
“The day unfolds with an hour of shows in which I myself dance, sing and play the role of the presenter. Whatever overflows from this day is the fruit of my imagination trying to figure out how I could make a child happy. Also present were car and wasp clubs and the historic cars of the State Police, as well as helicopters - protagonists par excellence. And of course the Silp National Secretariat ”.
"After an hour of pure fun, the children come out of the square and can watch the helicopters fly, be photographed with the Super heroes and in vintage cars. Even my children have actively participated this year, involving the little ones in the singing show. The children were also able to have fun with what I call 'bubble wizards' and with the SILP delegates present. On the side of the institutions, the commissioner, the prefect, Sarah Fascina representing the Chief of Police. This third edition, which took place after two years of pandemic, proved to be even more special for this " - concludes Rocchi.
The child in the moon: dissolving the remoteness of autism
"The child who withdraws, distances himself from the others, lost gaze into a distance that is only his". Thus begins the first chapter of "The child in the moon" by Michele Zappella, a work with which as author I open this paper on autism. “The irritation, the spite can become more alive precisely in those who love him most. Perhaps because his standing aside testifies to a failure in the ability to protect him, to communicate with him ", says Zappella.
Bring the child closer to himself
“It once happened that in a small town in the Sienese area a gigantic autistic child, until then rejected by a large part of the country, was taken in a festive circle by children of his age. Her mother told him about it and was deeply moved. I was too, but I couldn't understand that that joyful moment was so important because desire finally circulated among everyone ". Zappella tells of the importance ofwishing experience. The importance of the common desire that has in itself the latent ability to dissolve the remoteness of autism.
Characteristics of autism: a day promoted by the Silp
Autism is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder which, in those who carry it, impairs the ability to interact and communicate socially. In most cases with autism spectrum disorders, however, skills remain preserved. For example, the ability to perform routines, visuospatial skills as well as those of grasping details and using electronic devices. In view of achieving the greatest possible autonomy, it is good to leverage precisely on these strengths. The use of a visual support in communication, for example, exploits a strong point which is the visuospatial capacity. And it favors the autistic child in understanding and knowledge while helping him to express needs and desires.
“The two main ways of relating to others are to approach and to move away. In the historical reality of autistic children there would be a prevalence of stimuli that facilitate removal. [...] even those more polite, reserved ways of doing things that generally facilitate feeling at ease and therefore approaching someone else, these too would cause closure ", writes Zappella. In 1981 Michele Zappella received the Gold Medal and Honorary Citizenship of the municipality of Sesto San Giovanni for his works on autism.
The importance of the wishing experience
The wishing experience is being invaded by a common desire. Even an object, built for other purposes, can be reinvented by the adult and the autistic child to achieve a common desire. Even an object reused for a game, or a transgression, in which an adult and autistic subject are accomplices, can give way to “A carousel in which, since desire is common and close, it holds people tightly together”.
Effectiveness of the interventions available to date
An interesting discussion on the effectiveness of the interventions currently available for the treatment of autism is provided by the researcher Luca Surian - professor of developmental psychology and typical and atypical neurocognitive development at the University of Trento. In his book "Autism" published by the publishing company Il Mulino, it tells about programs and intervention strategies that can help autistic subjects to overcome social and communication difficulties. The choice of method - however - should depend on evaluations of effectiveness. It is crucial to be informed about the experimental evidence that exists for the
chosen method. Keeping in mind that for some of the proposed interventions there are no studies that allow to evaluate the efficacy.
Studies that meet specific requirements
"Conducting good studies for the evaluation of a treatment is very difficult due to various methodological and practical issues, not least the availability of the necessary financial resources" - writes Surian. A well-conducted study must possess specific requirements, including being able to respond to four fundamental principles. They are: 1- specific questions; 2- compliance with ethical constraints; 3- objectivity of the pre-test and post-test evaluations; 4- random assignment of subjects to groups. With regard to psychoeducational interventions, on the other hand, good experimental research has highlighted the effectiveness of some of them in reducing the symptoms of autism. Behaviors that are harmful to autism, Surian explains, can sometimes result from medical complications that generate physical pain. For this reason it is essential to carry out thorough medical examinations before proceeding with a psychoeducational intervention.
Types of psycho-educational intervention
The methods of intervention will start from one individual assessment who will take into account the personal level of preserved abilities, personal deficits and the personal intellectual level of the person being examined. These interventions identify a hierarchy of levels of functioning in order to advance the person's skills. The Teacch (Treatment and education of autistic and related communication handicapped children) is a program that can enjoy some empirical confirmations.
The heart of the method
Some methods that can benefit from appreciable experimental confirmations are Aba (Applied behavior analysis) and Esdm (Early start Denver model). The Aba method, which is the one that enjoys the greatest experimental confirmations. It is based on the identification of objectives to be achieved so that the person can derive the greatest degree of autonomy possible. The learning of new skills and the elimination of inappropriate behaviors are among the main objectives of ABA. The objectives to be achieved are hierarchized according to an order of priority. ABA, applied behavioral analysis, is indicated by the guidelines of the Higher Institute of Health as an effective and recommended intervention model.
