An extended family

Several children and young people with autism spectrum disorders have been attending individual sessions at the Arsenale dell’Incontro for some time. Good results, but the relational part that the individual session cannot provide was missing.

Many of the families had been asking us for a step in this direction for some time, because outside the Arsenale there are few, if any, environments where they feel free to take their children. Too many judgmental looks, too much fear that someone might be bothered by their peculiarities, too much worry about exposing them to situations they don’t know how to handle... “But it’s not like that with you,” they repeated to us at every meeting. And so, thanks to the great availability of educators and therapists, we sought out and created new meeting spaces, born from the love we have for each other, from a mutual respect that has become emotion and has involved us all in a shared journey. Since last September, every Thursday afternoon about ten children with their siblings and parents participate in meetings where we play, dance, and talk. Together to have fun, but also to grow, to give strength to each other, to exchange experiences. No longer islands but an extended family.

And it is a great emotion to see children who have been a bit isolated for so long now arrive at the Arsenale hand in hand, or greet each other with a hug when they meet in the corridors. And immediately behind them mothers look at each other with the understanding of those who truly love each other... like true friends, sisters. What gratitude for those special children!
 

Arsenale dell'Incontro
NP February 2025