Full of energy, 6-year-old Rosian, a little boy, is chasing pigeons in an alley in Chisinau. The boy, cuddled by close relatives Rosea, has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). His family, mother Irina and grandmother Raisa, packed their belongings and set off in search of safety, finding a safe place in the Republic of Moldova in March 2022.
Surviving in difficult conditions
Two years ago, the war dashed any hope the family had of raising Rosian at home in the town of Nicolaev, where he had started attending a specialized kindergarten and neurostimulation therapy. Together with his mother and grandmother, the boy experienced the bitterness of the first 25 days of the war, which completely disrupted the routine he was used to. His mother, Irina, and grandmother Raisa had to hide in makeshift shelters, making sure that Rosea did not suffer any trauma that would affect his health even further.
„It is difficult for a child with this type of behavior to stay for long periods of time in shelters, where there are many people. At home, during the day, it was easier to follow the two-wall rule (sheltering in a windowless space for protection) and we used to hide in the anteroom of the apartment. During the night fights we would sleep Rosea between us, being prepared for anything.” recalls Raisa Cozenco, her voice choked with emotion.
In addition to the constant fear, along with many other fellow citizens, the family also tried to survive when deprived of vital resources. Without water and electricity, grandmother Raisa had to improvise a cooking nook on the balcony, where Rosian’s wooden toys became a source of fire.
„We had to adapt constantly. I made a small griddle out of a metal coffee can, and I was able to cook something simple – an omelette or porridge” tells grandma.
New hope at SOS Autism and financial challenges
Once they were able to move safely to Chisinau, the family looked for ways to help Rosian progress. Enrolling in the services of SOS Autism was a crucial step in his development. Here, the boy started to speak his first words and was helped by specialists to develop his communication skills.
„Rosea has been attending SOS Autism for 2 years, five times a week, and the progress is evident. She now understands simple tasks and knows all her letters. She is a happy and loving child” says grandmother Raisa, with tears of joy.
Elena Helbite, a senior cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist at SOS Autism, says that refugee parents who have children with autism have countless challenges and their drama is twofold.
„Rosian’s diagnosis has further disheartened the Cozenco family, refugees in a foreign country. But because he followed a therapy program with specific activities, we were able to help him. He has learned to help himself, to communicate with his mother and grandmother”.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the demand for services and support for atypical children, refugees from this country, has increased. Many families have found support at „SOS Autism” and have benefited from ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy, a type of treatment for people diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Thanks to the progress made in treatment, 4 Ukrainian children with autism spectrum disorders were enrolled in schools in Moldova last year.
„Difficulties have been many, mainly due to language barriers and limited financial resources. It is a challenge to provide the necessary assistance to everyone, especially as donor resources have been limited over the last year. The support of partners is insufficient to fully cover all children,” says Aliona Dumitraș, Executive Director of SOS Autism.
„SOS Autism” has 16 years of experience in the field of protection and assistance to children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. SOS Autism’ efforts aim to improve the quality of life of people with autism through therapeutic interventions, education, counseling and advocacy. In the last 2 years, some 200 children have benefited from the organization’s services, including 36 refugee children from Ukraine.
In 2024 the Cozenco family benefited from free services, covered by funds coming from the European Disability Forum and the CBM Foundation. Currently, the Cozenco family can no longer benefit from the free services of the „SOS Autism” experts, and in the absence of a disability status for Rosian, the family cannot provide him with access to specialized care. The costs of the therapy sessions exceed the modest income of the family, where the mother is the only employed person.
Inclusion is about community action and support
Despite the difficulties, the mother and grandmother continue to fight for Rosian’s future. They very much hope that SOS Autism will find the financial resources so that they can receive free therapy.
Rosian’s story is an example of the tragedy and the intensity of the challenges refugee families who have children with autism go through. At the same time, this story is also about the progress and change that people can bring about in contexts of crisis and when the word ‘inclusion of children’ becomes essential for all. With the support of the community, donors and specialized organizations, there is hope for a future where children with ASD have access to the resources they need to develop and integrate into society.
This article was produced in partnership with Association „Alliance of Organizations for Persons with Disability from Moldova (AOPD)” and Association “SOS Autism “as part of the programme ‘Ukraine war: Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) led disability inclusive response and recovery’ (Phase II), which is implemented in collaboration with the European Disability Forum (EDF) with the financial support of CBM. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and other OPDs.
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