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Autism Voice and NN Romania open Autism Voice Institute, the first Multifunctional Center for Autism Therapy and Research in Romania

Autism Voice opens Autism Voice Institute, the first Multifunctional Center for Recovery and Research in Autism, together with NN Romania, the main partner supporting the initiative through a donation of 200,000 euros, and other partners who have joined the mission to support people diagnosed with autism.

Starting from November 17, 2022, Autism Voice Institute, a unique project in Romania, becomes functional and lays the foundations for research in the field at the local level, bringing to Romania innovative recovery programs including for teenagers and adults diagnosed with autism. The center will thus contribute to the development and application of therapies adapted to the needs of patients, to monitoring the evolution of their recovery and integration, and to a better understanding of the spread of autism spectrum disorders.

"After 14 years of activity in support of children with autism, through our centers and programs, and after an extensive fundraising campaign, we are opening the doors of the first Multifunctional Center for Autism Therapy and Research in Romania. The need for an Institute started from the children I worked with in the past who today are teenagers and adults who do not have access to dedicated support programs or support institutions. The aim of the Institute is to provide an environment where anyone diagnosed with a spectrum disorder can be seen, heard, understood and given the support they need, not only to develop skills, but also to function independently." said Anca Dumitrescu, President of Autism Voice.

Appropriate treatment and specialist therapies play a vital role in the development of people diagnosed with autism and in increasing the chances of a more functional life, helping patients to overcome the difficulties associated with autism. More than 90% of respondents to a recent survey conducted by Autism Voice are aware of these needs, and 78.5% believe that a person diagnosed with autism can, with appropriate support, succeed in leading an independent life. However, the support solutions currently available to people with autism are insufficient in Romania, an aspect observed by 75% of the respondents, who believe that people with autism do not have enough support to benefit from therapy and to have the chance to live an independent life , the Autism Voice survey also showed.

Autism Voice Institute aims to develop support solutions for children and adults diagnosed with autism in a way adapted to their current needs. Located in a three-story building in Bucharest, on Strada Orzari 86, the Multifunctional Center for Therapy and Research in Autism includes areas dedicated to the research and development of therapies and work rooms intended for therapy, school integration, professional training or counseling sessions, but also self-independence programs such as LIFE Autism.

"Autism is becoming more and more common and most of us know or have come into contact with someone diagnosed with this condition during our lives. We see more and more cases around, but not as visible are the difficulties that patients face in their efforts to have as autonomous a life as possible and their support needs. At NN we want to make a difference in their lives and that is why we have joined Autism Voice in this ambitious mission to develop the dedicated support system for children and adults diagnosed with autism. For them, Autism Voice Institute matters, being an important brick for accessing therapies and developing skills, but especially for building an independent future", said Gabriela Lupaș-Țicu, Chief Marketing & Operations Officer at NN Romania.

LIFE Autism, the only therapy program dedicated to adolescents and young adults with autism

LIFE Autism is a comprehensive therapy program created by Autism Voice for adolescents and young adults diagnosed with autism that will take place within the Multifunctional Center for Therapy and Research in Autism. The program incorporates the teaching of social skills, group relations, communication, independence and behavioral regulation. The curriculum of the program includes specific skills, such as functional academic skills in mathematics or the Romanian language, such as using money, using a laptop or writing a text message, but also general objectives, expanded on already existing skills, such as reducing dependence on support or self- regulation and self-monitoring of behaviors and activities.

The therapeutic objectives of this program are to develop the independence of adolescents and young people, to help them become more attentive and aware of themselves and the environment around them, to teach them to control their emotions and self-regulate from a behavioral point of view, to achieve functional forms of communication, to relate more easily, as part of the broad mission of Autism Voice Institute.

Further, Autism Voice Institute needs continued financial support to sustain its work and programs for people diagnosed with autism. Companies that want to join the Autism Voice mission can get involved by redirecting 20% ​​of the profit tax or 3.5% of the income tax, and individuals can donate 2 euros by sending an SMS with the text VOCE to the number 8844.

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About Autism Voice

The mission of the Autism Voice association, since 2008, is to develop and offer, at the national level, the best specialists and the best recovery and integration programs for children with autism spectrum or behavioral disorders. The multidisciplinary team of the association ensures the optimal results in the recovery of the abilities of children with neuropsychic disabilities through: programs of early diagnosis, evaluation and therapy for the little ones; counseling and training programs for parents and teachers; training programs for specialists involved in child therapy; special educational and therapeutic materials; social integration programs for children and adolescents; advocacy, awareness and education programs with social and professional groups to help them understand how they can contribute to the development of children with developmental or autism spectrum disorders.

About NN Romania

NN is the first international life insurance company that entered the Romanian market, in 1997, and for 14 years it has also been active in the private pensions segment, being a leader in the relevant markets. At the same time, NN has expanded in recent years in Romania and in the health and home insurance segments. Currently, NN has nearly 2,000 employees and financial advisors and supports over 2.2 million insurance and pension customers, a quarter of Romania's working population, to protect what matters most to them. Through business activity and investments in society, NN aims to generate positive changes in people's lives, supporting them to create the conditions for a better future for themselves and their loved ones. NN identifies solutions that respond to the current problems of society and contributes to their implementation whenever it has the opportunity together with partners from the non-profit sector. Specifically, the company supports important initiatives that aim to create economic opportunities for young people and disadvantaged families, but also access to education and medical services for the most vulnerable among us.