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ESIPP project teaches positive approaches to autism in the FYR of Macedonia

Around 150 parents, professionals, students, policy-makers, journalists and other stakeholders attended the third multiplier event “ Helping parents to support their children with autism”, held on November 1 in the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle in Skopje, in the framework of the European project “Equity and Social Inclusion through Positive Parenting” (ESIPP).

Hosted by the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism (MSSA), the conference raised awareness about the importance of parent education in autism and shared the work and expertise of the project partners to a wider audience. The ESIPP Parent Education Programme, developed in collaboration with partners from across Europe, was also introduced. The conference was largely covered by more than 20 local and national media.

One of the most stirring moments of the day was the speech given by Zoran Giev, parent of a child with autism and participant on one of the ESIPP parent training sessions delivered in Skopje. Giev talked about early diagnosis, education and the lack of information, support and understanding as being among the greatest problems faced by parents of children with autism in the FYR of Macedonia. He also stressed the importance of raising awareness and being truly supported by the community in order to foster the inclusion of autistic people.

Prior to this one-day conference, Zoran Giev and ESIPP partners from MSSA and the University of Northampton had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion with Lidija Krstevska Dojchonovska, State Advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister of the FYR of Macedonia, as well as a representative from the Ministry of Education, Mirjana Zlatanova, and from the Ministry of Science, Emilija Jovanovska. A discussion was held to highlight the importance of continuing to provide ESIPP training after the project’s completion, and how to ensure its sustainability.

On the occasion of this one-day event, the seventh transnational meeting was also held, hosted by the MSSA and held at the St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. Since the beginning of the project, 204 parents have been participated in ESIPP trainings by attending all core sessions (54 from the FYR of Macedonia, 76 from Cyprus and 74 from Croatia) and 16 local trainers have been trained. The remaining ESIPP training sessions will be delivered in February and March 2018 and the next multiplier event will be held in Limassol (Cyprus) in March 2018.

Autism-Europe is one of the partners of the ESIPP project, which focuses on offering education and training for parents of children on the autism spectrum. Running from September 2015 to August 2018, the project is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus + Programme.

Download sample modules of the Parent Education Programme

More information about ESIPP