In Chisinau, there are four municipal day centers where specialized services for children with autism are provided free of charge. In connection with World Autism Awareness Day, which is marked annually on April 2, the Chisinau City Hall launched a campaign to raise public awareness of the problems and needs of people with autism, IPN reports.
Through the agency of the General Division for the Protection of Children’s Rights, the municipality has developed the following services:
Day Center for Children with Rare Diseases and Autism “Blue Butterfly”; 5/6 Branistii St, tel. 067775867;
Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities “Casa Sperantei”; 1 Constantin Vârnav St, tel. 067214388;
Center for active recovery and social reintegration of children and young people with physical disabilities “Traian”; 23/1 Traian Blvd, tel. 067214386;
Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities “Attention”; 1 Ion Botezătorul St, tel. 067701490.
“The services involve individualized assistance to children with disabilities, including autism, in order to improve their quality of life and social behavior, according to their needs. These include social, psychological, speech therapy and kinetotherapeutic assistance,” reads a press release of the City Hall.
“Blue Butterfly” is the Day Center that supports children with such problems. The service was established in 2023, by decision of the Chisinau Municipal Council, and was created thanks to the partnership between the Association “Children of Rain” and the General Division for the Protection of Children’s Rights, as part of the Civil Society Organizations Acting for Better Social Services project, funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by Soros Foundation Moldova, in partnership with Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis.
Within the institution, there are several specialists in the field, who provide individual and group specialized social services, taking into account the age, possibilities and needs of the beneficiaries. These include occupational, recreational and cultural activities, development of life skills, kinetotherapy, canine therapy, logotherapy, behavioral therapy, informational, psychological support and assistance. Currently, the center is frequented by 26 children with ASD who benefit from programs intended for them.
There are 350 children with autism under the supervision of the General Division for the Protection of Children’s Rights. The chances of recovery increase significantly when therapy begins at the earliest age.
