According to international statistics, approximately 50 000 persons in the Czech Republic suffer from autistic spectrum disorders. However, only a fraction of that number has been diagnosed. This state is a reflection of the inadequately informed general and professional public. The mission of the civil association APLA-Prague (Association in aid of persons with autism) is to provide individuals with autism the kind of support that will enable them to live, work and educate themselves in the common world.

The goals of this association are:

List of services and activities provided by The Association in aid of people with autism APLA-Prague

Diagnostics:

Children come to the centre for a specialised examination at the recommendation of a paediatrician, children's psychiatrist, neurologist or pedagogue. Children are also examined at the request of their parents. The goal of the examination is to confirm or disprove the diagnosis of autism and its related disorders (atypical autism, disintegration disorder).
We use highly specialised scales and questionnaires for examination (CARS, ADI-R, ABC etc.). With the help of psychological tests and scales, the mental level of the child is determined (standard and special tests - S-B, Gessel, PEP, APEP etc.).
Another step is to familiarise the parents with the characteristics of the disorder, prognosis. A proposal ensues for effective expert intervention (further examinations, school facilities, methods of approach in the family). The psychologist recommends consultation with other experts in the team.
Approximately after one year following the determined diagnosis, a check-up is performed to evaluate the child's development.

Early treatment:

The centre for early treatment care offers its services to families with children who suffer from autism to six years of age. The centre's main activities include providing evaluation of the abilities and skills of the child and establishing the needs of the child and their entire family. Furthermore, processing an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Support Plan for the family, plus individual work with the child at ALPLA Prague, consultations directly at home, seeking pre-school facilities, communication therapy, the Early Treatment Club, toy, aid and literature rental and help in advocating rights and interests of the family.

Special pedagogical care:

Special pedagogical care for children corresponding with their individual educational plan. It is always preceded by a special pedagogical examination, to which we primarily apply the Psycho-educational profile (PEP, APEP) and the Education-evaluation profile. Based on this, a suitable individual education plan is created for the child, the contents of which are thoroughly discussed with the parents and respective facilities, which the child will be attending.
The goal of the special pedagogical care is to develop all areas of the child's development with a focus on fields, with deficits that are given by the handicap itself (communications, social behaviour, work behaviour, play).
Furthermore, the special pedagogue provides consultancy on the possibilities in education, introduces the parents to the specifics of educating a child with autism and the principles of structured learning, the pedagogue will explain the advantages and disadvantages of education at a common school, in a special school or class, within the scope of integration, they will explain the role of the pedagogue's assistant.
They also make visits to the household, where they suggest how to modify the environment and regime of the household, or solutions to other problems, which the family may be encountering.

Behavioural therapy:

We offer therapy for problematic behaviour (aggression, auto-aggression, stereotypical movement without a purpose, undressing in public, screaming, verbal abuse, obscenities and more).
Depending on the degree of the child's handicap, the therapists either use cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) or they apply behavioural analysis (ABA),
Within the scope of therapy, we offer group role-play of situations on social behaviour. The groups are held 1 x per week for one hour and are intended for persons from 7 years of age and up. With regards to older participants, cognitive therapy is focussed on possible depression or anxiety. . In addition, we offer individual role-play of situations, when the participant practices everyday activities one-on-one with the therapist or pedagogue.

Personal assistance:

Personal assistance (expert trained University students) provide accompaniment to children to and from school, to extra-curricular activities, sports or leisure time activities.

Relax services:

1 - 2x a month we organise relax weekends for parents of children and adults with autism. From 5.00 pm Friday to 5.00 pm Sunday we take over their care. All children and adults with autism may take part in this service without any restrictions in age and the degree of their problematic behaviour.

Summer camp "For parents without parents":

The summer camp is designed for people with autism and problematic behaviour. It runs in two various locations in several terms for the months of July and August.

Visits to family households:

When visiting families, we show them, which parts of their home they can modify, the best way they can organise a daily routine for the child, where they should position the regime, how they can use communication tables or books.
We visit facilities, which the child attends and suggest suitable educational procedures and we explain the specifics of the approach to a child with autism to the personnel.

Supported employment:

Within the scope of the program, the clients gain basic working habits; they learn how to work with a computer and how to apply it to job seeking. They undergo training in the form of role-play of model social behavioural situations on the worksite. Help is provided according to individual needs with regards to seeking a suitable job, such as processing documents, contacts with colleagues and the employer, and even long-term assistance on the worksite if need be.

Welfare consultation:

AN APLA-Prague social worker provides basic information on the legislature of the MPSV (the Ministry of Work, and Social Affairs), on state support, they will help with application forms and will provide contacts to other associations.

Club House:

The Club House offers art therapy and exercise on rehabilitation balls to children with autism and their healthy siblings, and relaxation massages to their parents.

Lecture and supervision activities:

We organise lectures and courses for the expert and general public and also lectures, followed by supervision at institutions of social care and psychiatric treatment centres.