Public Story
The daily life of Luisa, Riccardo and Michele with autism
Autism is a neural development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication."¨
No one knows the real causes of this condition and no cures exist."¨There are several treatments to autism spectrum disorders, such as drug therapy, speech therapy, psycho-motor therapy, psycho-educational therapy, pet therapy, and facilitated communication, but often families are left on their own.
Emilia (50) and Francesco (50) , live in Umbria, Italy. After having tried for a child for years, "¨ they resorted successfully to artificial insemination (ICSI) and had twins: Luisa and Riccardo. Only nine months after their birth, Emilia became spontaneously pregnant with their third child, Michele."¨ At two and a half years, Riccardo and Luisa were diagnosed with ASD. Unfortunately, just a year later, Michele was diagnosed with the same.
Emilia and Francesco spend from their own pockets for various treatments, because the disability pension of Italian state covers only a small part of the needs of this family: speech therapists who come four times a week, functional gymnastics, psycho-motor swimming therapy, pet therapy, homeopathic treatments - "to avoid resorting to drugs in small children,"- and specific foods since all three follows a special casein and gluten free diet. Emilia and Francesco work hard daily to help their children become self-sufficient, first and foremost. And to make that possible, continuous and repetitive teaching is necessary for everything, on learning paths created specifically for each of the three children.
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