From the entrance, in the garden, your first impression is a positive one. The appearance of the facilities is striking—a low, L-shaped house, really more of a cottage, set in a simple, well-kept garden. The Siena-earth-colored buildings give off a warmth. Here and there, young people walk or sit in the grounds, greeting us with a calm that we'll encounter again the moment we step inside the house.
Yet within these walls live 22 young people with serious behavioral disorders—autistic boys and girls whose struggles we know something of: the profound difficulties, the tensions that often break through in screams, jumping, aggression, self-harm.
The tranquility of this place is what strikes us first. The silence.
In the corridor, we immediately notice personal lockers—customized for each resident.
Each young person has one for their belongings. On the outside of each locker are removable words (bathroom, lunch, garden) or labels with pictures representing the same: a toothbrush, a roll of toilet paper, a plate. This is one gateway to non-verbal language—how the residents learn to communicate with their educators, to navigate their daily schedule, and to develop independence. We see it at once: a young man comes to reattach a bathroom label, takes another, and walks toward a room. He does it himself. The educator follows, keeping his distance.
As we visit the different work spaces, we see remarkable concentration and focused learning. One resident screws and unscrews bottle caps. Another sorts pieces by color. A third writes in a notebook.
It might sound simple—and in one sense it is—but it carries enormous educational weight and shows real progress for young people who, left to themselves, would drown in repetitive behaviors, self-injury, visible anguish expressed in countless ways.
There is a great peace here, and the unmistakable sense that everyone knows where to go and what to do. None of this happens by accident. The approach of the educators—always present, nearly silent—is itself central to the method at work. Few words, but clear and meaningful ones; often, instead of words, there are gestures and demonstrations. Materials abound everywhere. Not luxurious ones, but objects designed and made by the educators themselves, tailored to each resident's program—a program, the psychologist explains, that is carefully studied, applied to each person, and continuously evaluated and refined.
The doctor who received us describes the history of this program. We can see that she, along with her team and all the staff, has poured enormous skill, interest, and dedication into it—and continues to do so. The results we glimpse in our brief visit are not miracles. They are the fruits of deliberate, coordinated, sustained effort, following a proven method applied in other places for years.
We leave with profound gratitude at having seen these young people—whom we often encounter agitated, tense, anxious—finally at peace, because they are met and guided through a language and at a level they can understand.
Nicole Schulthes, 1996
Experimental Center for Autism
Associazione Anni Verdi
Via Portuense 1418 - 00050 - Ponte Galeria (Rome)
Founded in 1992, the Center was established to develop responses to the challenges of autism intervention and research. Its activities—directed toward autistic individuals, their families, and those who work in the field—include:
Diagnostic Services
Comprehensive diagnostic assessment—including functional and normative evaluation—for children, adolescents, and adults showing symptoms of autism.
Outpatient Services
For children and young people between 3 and 12 years old. Cognitive and behavioral treatments are offered; through structured space and clear instructions, they aim to develop foundational, communicative, cognitive, and motor skills—essential steps toward personal independence.
Mon., Wed., Fri., 4–7 p.m.
Day Program
Serves adolescents and adults diagnosed with generalized developmental disorder of autistic type. Programs focus on building communication and independent-living skills.
Therapeutic Residential Stays
Conducted in coastal locations, these immersive programs cover all aspects of daily and community life in settings with beach, pool, and excursions. Specialized staff blend vacation with therapeutic goals. June–September.
Therapeutic Weekends
For autistic children, adolescents, and adults, held twice monthly. These programs provide assessment and intervention in settings different from everyday routines: mountain excursions, free exploration, group activities, and independent-living practice.
Training
The Ponte Galeria team offers theoretical training sessions to schools and specialist organizations to build knowledge about autism, as well as practical internships where participants learn the relational methods used by the Center. The Center also welcomes trainees and conducts ongoing internal professional development.
Research
The research and intervention project evaluates the effectiveness of treatments, identifies potential conditions associated with symptoms, and employs comprehensive assessment—functional, normative, and diagnostic—along with neurobiological investigation, laboratory studies, neurophysiological and neuroradiological examination, and imaging techniques.
Autism is a disorder marked by communicative, sensory, and cognitive difficulties.
It presents challenges in language, social interaction, play, and personal independence. It requires an adequate, protective physical and relational environment.