The 5th International Conference on Autism took place in Pordenone on March 22, organized by the Bambini e Autismo Foundation, which has been active in the city for many years. The Foundation recently achieved ONLUS status and, after years of self-funded operations, now receives regional support.
The services it provides to residents and non-residents are marked by the expertise and specialized training of its staff. It offers diagnostic assessments and ongoing education for families and professionals in the field. All services charge fees—modest ones, by design—as part of the Foundation's commitment to shared responsibility.
President Dr. Del Duca outlined these core objectives:
- Early diagnosis and educational intervention;
- Support and assistance for families;
- Training for autistic individuals to help them face the future with greater independence;
- Respite for families through "Villa Respiro," where autistic young people can spend weekends or vacation periods following programs tailored with the Foundation.
Future goals include:
- Launching regional training courses for staff;
- Publishing a white paper on autism's needs, based on survey data;
- Gathering evidence and information.
As the conference title states—"From Respite Care to Life Programs for Autistic Adults: Comparing Models"—the aim is to develop an even larger service focused on the years after parents pass away, starting preparations well before that time so young people can grow and find their own way with confidence.
To gain a European perspective on the current landscape, the Foundation invited experts from several leading initiatives, mostly residential communities built around agricultural farms, to present their work and share their stories.
In Italy, one such facility has operated for a year in the Oltrepò Pavese region ( see Cascina Rossago, a promising project for autistic young people, in Ombre e Luci no. 70, 2000) and houses 8 autistic residents, some with significant support needs. France, England, Ireland, Germany, and Spain have operated such ventures since the 1960s.
I cannot offer a technical assessment of the methods used or their relative effectiveness, but the overall picture is one of robust initiatives and life solutions that appear genuinely successful for both the autistic individuals and their families.
All these ventures grew from parents who sought answers to their own needs and those of their children and banded together to find shared solutions. Over time, accumulated experience and the changing needs of aging residents allowed these services to expand and evolve. The organizations themselves gained credibility and standing, attracting public funding and institutional support.
— Elisabetta de Rino, 2003
How to Get Started
Essential advice from parents asking how to launch a farm-based community
- Take ownership of your problems, form a group, and begin.
- Finance through loans or sponsorships. Solve basic needs through hands-on experience and demonstrated credibility; public funding will follow more easily.
- Design facilities carefully. Keep groups small so residents work well together. Aim for a staff-to-resident ratio near 1:1 (supplemented by volunteers).
- Hire professional support early.
- Prioritize group compatibility.
- Keep rules clear.
- Listen to others and communicate openly.
- Continuously measure service quality (formal methods exist).
- Own your projects; don't wait for outside help.
- Listen to parents.
- Build networks among organizations working in the field.
