The Hungarian Autistic
Society, established as the
Association for the Welfare and Interests of Autistics in 1988, is the only
umbrella body in the field of autism in Hungary, with 53 affiliated organizations and
over 1300 individual members. The HAS is a public benefit
organization since 1998.Our activities:
INFORMATION SERVICE
A duty
system is in operation from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., to
answer legal, childcare and custodial questions relating to autism. We
answer inquiries from parents as well as from professionals and the
interested. This "information centre" receives app. 40-60
calls, e-mails and postal requests weekly.
Our
popular homepage (www.esoember.hu)
provides all the relevant news and information that may be of interest to
families affected by autism and professionals dealing with them. We
endeavour to make esoember.hu serve as a public portal.
The autista.info.hu
webpage is one the biggest on-line databases in the field of autism in
Hungary.
It contains the contact details of institutions, professionals,
organizations, its content is updated regularly.
Our periodical
Esõember (“Rain Man”) commences
its 12th year of publication in 2008, currently the journal is mailed to
1100 addresses (members, affiliated organizations, subscribers, extra
complimentary issues to governmental bodies, authorities, libraries etc.).
Our newsletter
is mailed in paper form to c. 600 individuals and, in addition, to 53 affiliated
organizations monthly. With newsletters we inform those without an
internet access, but interested in the major events and news concerning
autism.
The forum
accessible at the homepage is fairly popular as well, as the place for
discussions between parents. We forward some of the questions to
professionals, and their answers to the inquirers.
Since
2006, through our AAC-consultative service, the Boardmaker
application has been available in our office, to produce personalized
schedule and communication cards for persons with autism. The program has
been operated for parents and professionals by a pedagogue experienced in
augmentative communication.
In 2007
and 2008, we produced a prospectus named Iránytû ('Compass', with a
circulation of 1000 copies) for parents of newly diagnosed children with
autism about the most important childcare facilities, institutes,
entitlements etc.
We
issued a comprehensive register Autista Info 2007 about childcare
facilities, institutes, their contact details etc. available in Hungary.
800 copies of the 80 pages long publication were printed and posted.
We are
now developing a research project
on families with autistic family member in Hungary. The project has
several sections: (a) Population living with autism from the point of view
of the health system and the education system. (Analysis of the anonymous
data base of the National Health Database, and of the National Education
System) (b) Diagnosis Centers of Autism in Hungary. Diagnosis protocols
and care. (c) Families caring for an autistic family member: survey, focus
groups, individual and family interviews. During the survey we would like reach
approx. 6-700 families.
ADVOCACY
A
constant contact is maintained with government departments,
authorities; if necessary, a specialist team has been organized to
tackle a given task.
We
engage in the function of the Council of Federations of People with
Disabilities, where our vice-president Dr. Erika Erdos is a member of
the board.
Within the scope of activity devoted to the
interests of people with autism we have many times approached institutions,
local governments. We regularly make proposals to governmental bodies,
authorities, write open letters and turn to the press
in order to communicate the problems and needs concerning people with
autism.
Our legal
consultancy service is permanently available at the phone number of
the office. By providing information, we help to pursue the interests of
people with autism and their family members, to tackle their legal issues:
our lawyer colleague Dr. Ágnes Molnár has answered phone, e-mail and
postal inquiries, and provides consulting hours in the HAS office monthly.
OTHER
An
event called "Autism Day" is being organized every year,
where issues affecting the parents and the community get on the agenda. In
year 2006, 300, in
2007, more than 200 guests attended our program.
Occasionally,
programmes, parents' meetings, family festivities are organized for the
parents.
Under
the name "Majorság-háló" we aggregate those organizations
that provide rural services, or accommodation and occupation similar to
such. For the organizations - their number increased to 15 in 2007 - we set up
meetings, expeditions, trainings. (For details visit: www.majorhalo.hu)
The HAS
is member of the Autism Europe (AE)
European umbrella body since 2004. Zsuzsanna Szilvásy, as delegate of
the HAS, has been elected a member of the board of AE.
AOSZ
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