Call for abstracts 2nd Scientific ReAttach Conference

Call for abstracts

2nd Scientific ReAttach Conference
May 29/30 2020 / Skopje, Macedonia

Embracing Complexity Makes Sense!

We invite abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations at the 2nd Scientific ReAttach Conference / May 29-30, 2020 Skopje Macedonia. The event will be organized by ReAttach Therapy International Foundation and the Macedionian Scientific Society for Autism.

The general theme of the 2nd ReAttach Conference is “Embracing complexity“.
Autism will remain one of the main topics of the ReAttach Conference. A special focus lies on accessible and affordable interventions to support individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Abstract submission should link with one of the conference topics:
1. ReAttach
2. Autism
3. Neurodevelopment
4. Clinical Psychiatry
5. Neuro-Rehabilitation
6. Special Education
7. Motor Imagery

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:

Prof. Michael Fitzgerald, Prof. Dr. Donatella Marazziti, Prof. Alexander B. Poletaev, Prof. Dr. Manuel Casanova, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ghazziudin, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski, Dr. Hanna Alonim, Dr. Ashutosh Srivasta, Drs. Paula Weerkamp-Bartholomeus

Conference website

Visit https://reattachconference.org for the latest information about this conference.  You can also find speakers guidelines and rules for abstract submission here.

Paula Weerkamp-Bartholomeus     Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski
ReAttach Foundation President             MSSA President
reattachfoundation@gmail.com           journaljrtdd@gmail.com

Merry Christmas

Dear colleagues and friends,

As we are coming to another year’s end, we want to thank you all for your collaboration in supporting MSSA vision. 2018 has been an important year for the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism agenda in the region and as well.

The new year 2019 brings new and exciting challenges and opportunities. We look forward to these and to many more exciting developments ahead.

We wish you and your families a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

MSSA Team

#AutismPCP kick-off meeting realized in Patras

Dear colleagues,

I want to inform you that we realized the first meeting of #AutismPCP priject from December 11th to December 12th in Patras, Greece.  Twelve participants from 6 partners countries (Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romaina, Italy and Macedonia) attended there. Participating Organisations were:

  • D.A.D.A.A (Association of Parents, Legal Guardians & Friends of Children & Adults in Autism spectrum disorders and Aspergers’)
  • MAENDELEO FOR CHILDREN APS
  • Scoala Gimnaziala Smaranda Gheorghiu
  • CYCLISIS
  • SHIPCON LIMASSOL LIMITED
  • PARVI NATIONALEN CENTAR PO DYSLEXIA
  • Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism.

Partners have presented their organizations. Than presentation of project design, work plan, time table, distribution of tasks and responsibilities, were discussed. Also dissemination plan, further dissemination activities/specific tasks, website, social media, leaflet, logo, were subject of this meeting. Autism Life Planning Tools and Intellectual Output with focus on O1 were topics as well.

Next transnational meeting will held in Romania in May 2019.

President of MSSA

Higher Plasma Concentration of Food-Specific Antibodies in Persons With Autistic Disorder in Comparison to Their Siblings

Specific IgA, IgG, and IgE antibodies to food antigens in 35 participants with autistic disorder and 21 of their siblings in the Republic of Macedonia were examined. Statistically significant higher plasma concentration of IgA antibodies against alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, casein, and gliadin were found in the children with autistic disorder. Plasma concentrations of IgG antibodies against alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and casein in participants with autistic disorder were significantly higher. IgE-specific antibodies (alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, casein, and gluten), as well as plasma concentration of total IgE, also were statistically significantly higher in the participants with autistic disorder. Gender differences were found for select IgA, IgG, and IgE (but not for total IgE) food-specific antibodies (kU/L) in the participants with autistic disorder and their siblings.

Stress that parents of autistic children and parents of children with cerebral palsy face with

Natasha Mateska1, Vladimir Trajkovski2

1unemployed special educator

2University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius”, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

Introduction: Autism is a diagnose that affects every member of the family in different ways. Parents should focus a bigger part of their attention toward the autistic child, which can cause a stressful effect in the family as well as outside the family.

Aim of the study: To determine the stress that parents of autistic children face with compared to parents of children with cerebral palsy.

Methodology: The entire sample includes 90 respondents, of which 45 parents of autistic children and the rest 45 parents of children with cerebral palsy. The survey was conveyed using a questionnaire and methods of descriptive and comparative analysis were used. The comparison of the groups of surveyed was analyzed by using χ2 test and Fisher Exact test. The differences that were taken into consideration were on the level of significance p<0.05.

Results: Parents of autistic children compared with parents of children with cerebral palsy, statistically show significant difference for following variables: support from close community (χ2=7.57, df=1, p=0.006), stigmatization by family and community (χ2=5.4, df=1, p=0.02), isolation by the community (χ2=10.3, df=1, p=0.001), change in the relationship between spouses (χ2=7.53, df=1, p=0.006).

Conclusion: The parents of autistic children are faced with bigger stress in managing the everyday activities and control of life, compared with parents of children with cerebral palsy.

Key words: stress, parents, autism, cerebral palsy

Citation: Mateska N, Trajkovski V. Stress that parents of autistic children and parents of children with cerebral palsy face. Book of abstracts ‡ 9th International Scintific Conference – „Special Education and Rehabilitation Today“. Belgrade, September 25-27, 2015; 31.

Plasma concentration of immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in children with autism in the Republic of Macedonia: retrospective study.

A multimodal intervention for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders: ‘ReAttach’

Paula Weerkamp-Bartholomeus, Ph.D.1, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski2

1ReAttach Therapy Institute, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, e-mail: info@reattach-therapy-institute.com

2Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Philosophy, University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” Blvd. Goce Delchev 9A, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, e-mail vladotra@fzf.ukim.edu.mk

 Abstract

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors, which has considerable impact on daily life functioning. ReAttach is an intervention based on attachment, arousal regulation and training multiple sensory integration processing.

Aim: investigate the effectivity of ReAttach in terms of improvement of daily life functioning.

Method: Eight therapists were trained to perform ReAttach with a group of participants (N=58). Comparison of the mean scores on the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) was conducted with a paired sample t-test.

Results: In this study we have explored the potential of 5 sessions of ReAttach to significantly improve the ATEC scores of participants diagnosed with ASD within a short period of time. The results revealed significant decreases of problems (p<0.001) in the subscales: I. Speech (t=9.96, df=57, p=0.000), II. Sociability (t=13.72, df=57, p=0.000), III. Sensory Cognitive Awareness (t=11.91, df=57, p=0.000), IV. Health / Physical / Behavior (t=11.64, df=57, p=0.000) and total scores of the ATEC (t=15.23, df=57, p=0.000).

We made comparison of mean total scores in various diagnosis within the whole ASD group: Autistic disorder (N=6, age M=18.67, SD±6.92, males were 100%) t=4.78, df=5, p=0.005; Asperger syndrome (N=24, age M=27.75, SD±12.88 males were 70.83%)  t=10.56, df=23, p=0.000; PDD-NOS (N=24, age  M=22.17, SD±11.68, males were 83.33%), t=9.26, df=23, p=0.000; ASD and Intellectual Disability (N=4, age M=26.75, SD±16.17, males were 75%) t=4.40, df=3, p=0.022.

Conclusions: This study confirms that ReAttach has a positive impact on daily life functioning. Practical research confirms the hypothesis that this intervention has a positive effect on various developmental areas described in the ATEC. The results further suggest that people within the entire range of ASD can benefit from ReAttach and the method itself might provide important clues to efficient ASD treatment.

Keywords: autism, innovation, treatment

Citation: Weerkamp Bartholomeus P, Trajkovski V. Multimodalna intervencija za decu i odrasle sa autističnim spektrom poremećaja: „Reattach“. Zbornik rezimea ‡ IV stručno-naučni skup sa međunarodnim učešćem „Aktuelnosti u edukaciji i rehabilitaciji osoba sa smetnjama u razvoju“. Beograd, 24-25 oktobar, 2015; 19.

#AUTISM PCP – A hollistic approach of person-centred planning for people with Autism

AUTISM PCP‘ is an innovative cross-sectoral partnership project with strong European

added value; as such, ‘AUTISM PCP’ addresses important horizontal as well as sectoral priorities

for the European Union, such as ‘social inclusion, adult learning policies and Early School

Leaving (ESL).

The main objectives of  ‘AUTISM_PCP’ are:

– Empowerment of individuals at risk of social exclusion and more specifically empowerment of ASC

individuals

– Strengthening of the overall effort for social inclusion and integration of ASC individuals at

mainstream education & society at large

– Enhancing competences of professionals and all those individuals, such as family members & relatives, etc., involved in the life of ASC individuals

– Raise awareness  to the general public with regards to social inclusion of pupils with Autism

Source: http://www.autismholistic.eu/