The 141st Special Education Classroom, which is equipped with the necessary materials within the scope of the Classroom Equipping Project carried out by Tohum Autism Foundation in order to ensure that children and young people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have access to education, which is their only remedy, to meet their needs to sustain their lives in modern social conditions and to provide material support to public schools in need, is opened at Emlak Konut Ertuğrul Gazi Secondary School with the support of Evolog Logistics.
The opening ceremony of the Special Education Classroom, which was realised with the support of Evolog Logistics and in cooperation with Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, was attended by the following people: Kemal İnan (District Governor of Avcılar), Mehmet Nasip Sırma (National Education Avcılar District Branch Manager in charge of Special Education), Tuncay Gündüz (Deputy Mayor of Avcılar), Serkan Vatansever (Headman of Tahtakale Neighbourhood), Nurettin Yaman (Principal of Emlak Konut Ertuğrul Gazi Secondary School), EvoLog Logistics officials and Özgül Gürel (General Manager of Tohum Autism Foundation).
Within the scope of the Classroom Equipping Project, which was initiated by the Tohum Autism Foundation to idealise the special education classrooms, 140 special education classrooms have so far been opened in Izmir, Zonguldak, Mardin, Çanakkale, Sivas, Batman, Antalya, Artvin, Diyarbakır, Istanbul, Balıkesir, Mardin, Muş, Van, Bursa, Ankara, Ardahan, Manisa, Şanlıurfa, Muğla, Hatay and Konya. Special trainings were provided for families and teachers.
The only known cure for autism today is early diagnosis and continuous, intensive, special education.
Today, 1 out of every 44 children in the world is born with the risk of autism. This figure shows an upward trend every year. The main symptoms of autism, which is a congenital developmental difference that is usually recognised in the first years of life, include the following: not making eye contact with others, not looking when his/her name is called, speech delay, not being able to point with his/her finger, not showing interest in games played by peers, Rocking back and forth or flapping hands, tiptoeing, excessive interest in rotating objects and obsessive behaviours.
Families should immediately consult a child/adolescent psychiatrist specialised in autism if their children display behaviours and symptoms different from their peers of the same age. Scientific studies show that in about fifty per cent of children, who receive intensive education with early diagnosis, and with the right education technique, the symptoms of autism can be controlled, positive development can be achieved, and even some children with autism become no different from their other friends by the time they reach adolescence.
