Parents for parents through successful interventions in Dushanbe: Tahmina came to IRODA when her second daughter was diagnosed with autism.

From the early beginning, she was highly involved in intervention programs. She would attend trainings and cooperated actively in their workshops.  Initially, she joined as a mom, but soon she developed into a true program specialist. Tahmina inspired and helped other moms to work with children and contributed to them being accepted to regular kindergartens.

Unfortunately, her third daughter also showed early signs of autism. But Tahmina didn’t give up and got her girl into early interference and inclusion programs as well, persuading other moms and their children to do the same. This way, she helped her children to improve both their social skills and day-to-day tasking. This heroic example of devotion, positivity and targeted actions made her children and other moms believe in themselves. Tahmina is currently on maternity leave and welcomed a beautiful son into her family. While celebrations from IRODA ring above everything, they also can’t wait for their dear colleague to return to their team (by the way, the story of Tahmina is shown HERE).

IRODA, family first
So, there it is: the core of IRODA’s organizational philosophy is the belief that family plays a key role in a child’s development. All children, regardless of their individual traits, deserve love, respect and equality. In addition, IRODA strongly believes that children diagnosed with ASD, deserve recognition of their individual integrity and dignity, translating into equal rights on education and inclusion in the various spheres of life (as well as access to early diagnostics, early support and education, integration to a society).

They fully recognize and value that family is above everything and that parents are the most important friends and teachers to their children. Parents are therefore entitled to full recognition of this pivotal role and should be enabled to gain full understanding of the special needs of their children.

Life Prospects
As a parental organization with programs for different age groups, they underpin that children need to be part of a school and a society. They need improvement of the quality of their life and life prospects, no matter what it takes.

With them are many parents however - among which the founder of IRODA - whose children didn’t receive the necessary support or interventions in the early childhood. They were blocked from reaching their potential and therefore landed in more challenging life circumstances. This surely helped IRODA professionals to become true believers of their philosophy.

The IRODA team has practical knowledge and skills on educating children facing developmental disorders through programs of parental involvement, based on social-communicative and emotional influence. They offer practical experience in training (early years) educators and teachers about the inclusion principles and methods to help children with ASD integrate smoothly in existing social structures.

Depressive moms
Their main work however exist of a program called ‘Mature Parenthood,’ which aims to decrease depression in mothers and improve the overall relation of vulnerable mothers with their children as early as possible.

Home visiting
In 2017 and 2018 they also started an educational programs for children under 3 – delivered in their homes. It consists of a routined approach of interventions and however successful, IRODA welcomes complementary competences in this field from experts within the ISSA network.

While working in early childhood development, as well as during every day communication with children, IRODA also noticed that the quality of interaction between teachers and children is not always optimal. And creating stimulating learning environments in (pre)schools or other programs, is another issue that needs attention still. Any ISSA member willing to share their knowledge and expertise on such topics are more than welcome.

Ruling principles
Lastly, some takeaways from Dushanbe: Love for children and family is truly the main thing. It inspires and gives energy to move on, no matter what. In the end, inclusion and respect to children with special needs has to be the ruling principle of all programs on early childhood development; both in developing- and post-Soviet countries.

Do you wish to read this article in RUSSIAN? Click HERE.