There are about 130 persons suffering from autism in Moldova, according to official statistics. However, the unofficial figure stands at approximately 10,000. Contacted by IPN, therapist Veronica Fala, founder of the public association “We Understand Autism”, explained that such a discrepancy is due to the fact that many of the parents are not ready to accept that they have autistic children and hide this truth in the hope that the problem will disappear in time.

Autism is a neurobiological disorder that affects the behavior of a child, his way of thinking, communicating and interacting. These children lack the ability to imagine things, make strange movements and can produce strange sounds.

The parents demand that this diagnosis should not be included in the child’s medical records so that they don’t find out about this at the kindergarten or school. The causes of autism are not yet very clear. The disorder can be caused by genetic or biological factors. The unbalanced alimentation during pregnancy can also be a risk factor.

Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child’s life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then regress. Early behavioral, cognitive, or speech interventions can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been reported cases of children who recovered.

Veronica Fala said that in Moldova this diagnosis started to be made five years ago. There are yet no data about how these persons cope in adulthood, if they are discriminated or not. “Society should know about this mental condition so that the lives of the artistic children and their parents could be eased,” she stated.

The public association “We Understand Autism” aims to provide assistance to autistic children and their families. It will be launched officially in a news conference in Chisinau on August 6.