Raising funds for scholarships and free counseling for autistic children

This is a program jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Dance Artists Association, the Dance Heart Club and two units supporting autistic children on August 17 and 18.

Food stall with autistic children as chefs

"Dancing Heart 6 - Finding Dreams" is a program for families with children with autism spectrum disorders across the country. Program activities include seminars on health and mental care for caregivers of autistic children; early intervention support for autistic children; direct therapy consultation for parents; playgrounds, small stages for children and shopping booths to raise funds.

Bringing her son from Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Mi Mi confided that this was the first time she and her son attended a program for autistic children.

Ms. Mi said that her son had had psychological problems since he was 2 years old, but she only started intervention when he was 3. Over the past 4 years, the mother and son have made efforts to treat him at the hospital and actively intervene at home. Up to now, the son has been able to enter first grade and study with his peers.

"What impressed me most was the seminar with the close sharing of psychological experts. Listening to their confidences and witnessing special situations, I felt that I was not alone on this journey. I myself was also given more strength and I believe that my son will grow up to be healthy and independent in the future" - Ms. Mi confided.

Master of Psychology Nguyen Thi Dieu Anh, member of the Vietnam Psychotherapy Association, said that parents often feel apprehensive about taking their children with autism spectrum disorder out into the community, so they often intervene at home. In fact, effective intervention is one that involves close coordination between the family, school, and experts (doctors, psychologists, speech therapists, etc.).

"According to research, the golden time for intervention for children is the first 3 years. However, not all children are detected early. In my opinion, the golden time is when the family notices abnormal signs in their child and actively intervenes," said psychologist Dieu Anh.

Dr. Tran Thi Phuong, Children's Hospital 1 (HCMC), guides parents in preparing appropriate meals for autistic children.

In addition to caring for autistic children, psychologist Dieu Anh believes that psychological care for caregivers of autistic children is also very important. There are many cases where parents fall into depression and deadlock because they think too much or cannot accept their child's health condition.

In addition, within the framework of the program, there are also 2 fundraising art performances with the participation of choreographers, young dancers, dance groups, dance troupes, students of Ho Chi Minh City Dance College, singers Duyen Quynh, Tran Duy Linh, young singers and the Ho Chi Minh City Artist Volunteer Team.

A representative of the Dance Heart Club said that all the funds raised in the program will be awarded to 50 diagnostic scholarships at Children's Hospital 1 (2 million VND/scholarship), 10 vocational scholarships (4.2 million VND/scholarship), 10 professional scholarships (3 million VND/scholarship) and 10 scholarships for disadvantaged families with autistic children (2 million VND/scholarship).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/gay-quy-hoc-bong-va-tu-van-mien-phi-cho-tre-tu-ky-196240817225317126.htm