Dental service for children of the Regional Centers for Autism

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Albanian Children Foundation opened in the beginning of this year at the Regional Center for Autism in Farka, the dental service with a new dental cabinet especially for children of both centers. The service will provide screening, diagnosis and treatment of dental problems to children. New dental cabinet will be led by Olesia Duke, the doctor of “Shendi Dent” Clinic, already known to the public for its contribution to children with special needs.

On the first day of the opening of the clinic Dr. Olesia Duke and colleagues who assist in this mission, met with parents of children and conducted several visits screening children thus allowing the opening of cards for each of them.

Why this new service?

Children with autism, unlike other children, often are unable to tolerate dental examinations because of fears associated with the sights and sounds produced by dental equipment. This makes their dental treatment a problem. In their daily lives these children exhibit difficulties in providing the service for oral hygiene resulting to increased teeth morbidity .The studies have shown that to reduce phobic behavior that these children exhibit toward treatment, well-structured and analyzed procedures should be applied.

To better understand how this service will run and what the children will benefit we had a short interview with Dr. Olesia Duke.

Dr. Olesia, what was the idea of having such a cooperation with the foundation?

In fact this is an early friendship between my mother and Dr. Berisha. It has has been my desire expressed to the doctor 5 years ago which was support by her.  Becoming more professional over the years thanks to my experience in the “Shendi Dent” clinic opened from my parents, I thought was ready to say “YES” to this cooperation for this mission.

Why did you choose to do this?

I am dedicated to these children because they are first and foremost children, and children must be helped.

Secondly, I see that people are more attracted to supporting children with special needs such as those with autism spectrum disorder or those with Down syndrome, etc. I like to give love unconditionally, to give my support and warmth; why not when I have an opportunity from my family.

What specific work will be done with children?

First we will build the social engagement doctor-child. This goes through some steps. Then the child gets used to the doctors, the doctor develops a full recognition and create a more reliable trust with the child. Then it goes on with the opening of the mouth which is difficult but not impossible. Secondly, the parent’s role is very important. This means that if doctor-parent relationship is set, it means my successful work with children. So if a parent helps during the clinical process, since at children with autism spectrum disorder the jaw is on the weak points of their own, then we can achieve good treatment results.

Specifically what feature of children with autism spectrum disorder in this regard?

Children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulties in the first approach, at the first meeting. Those children are very smart and have sharp senses. Aggressiveness to these children is current and manageable. Thus if the problem lies in the white shirts, the color can be changed until the child is briefly introduced. The studies has shown that “A” is the first sound that comes out to children with autism spectrum, which means that the opening of the mouth is realized through this.  This is the first stage. The second stage is patience between doctor-child-parent. These children should always have their parent or their clinical psychologist.

Meetings will be three times a month, every ten days and will be divided into age groups. Children are divided into two groups,: 2-6 years and 8-10 years. 70% of the work in the first 6 months of treatment will be therapeutic and psychological process. In the second 6 months the clinical process will begin.

This collaboration will be a contribution from you?

Absolutely yes. It will be free. It will always will be. I take this opportunity to appeal to the business customer, friends, classmates and colleagues to invest a little bit for children who have health problems in our country.

Learning Skills to Toddlers, A Program for Parents.

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Foundation brings in a new didactic DVD package.

Albanian Children Foundation brings the new instrument in the field of therapeutic education for children with autism spectrum disorder. It is “Learning Skills to Toddlers, A Program for Parents”, a project which has come as a collaboration of the foundation and “Autism Speaks” and the University of “Connecticut” and is genuinely a research sponsored by ” Autism Speaks “and National Institute of Health in the US.

The project which has already begun in December 2014, comes in the form of a composite material from 6 DVD 6 chapters and 4 chapters as a textbook. It teaches parents step-by-step how to work with their children. Filming materials of 6 DVD package presents concrete examples of therapy guidelines and processes with video clips recorded specially for this purpose, and correctly oriented toward the parents how to do the right thing with their children to succeed.

This pack brings up to another level the foundation work in the most remote areas of the country, where quality services will take time to be introduced. So families living in remote areas and have no possibility of being close to a therapist, can be informed and educated through this very worthwhile program visually.

The Therapeutic program which is believed to be the best in the world for the moment, is designed by professors Deborah Fein and Lynn Brennan that a good part of our audience know them through their books translated and published in Albanian. Currently the project it is extended to 4 cities: Tirana, Elbasan, Korça and Berat.

The Foundation has the copyright to the text in Albania as well as the right to distribute this material and republish the material for Albanian speaking families in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, Serbia etc.

Ambassador of China, H.E Mrs.. Jiang Yu visited the Autism Center

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Ambassador of China, H.E Mrs.. Jiang Yu visited the Autism Center


The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, H.E Mrs.. Jiang Yu with an invitation of the Albanian Children Foundation visited on the eve of holidays the Regional Center for Autism in Farka and joined the party organized with the children.

The Chinese Ambassador was introduced with therapeutic facilities, working methods used and current achievements with autistic children by Dr. Liri Berisha- the president of Albanian Children Foundation and scientific director Dr. Ariel Como.. Dr. Liri Berisha expressed deep gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador and highly appreciated the visit and its personal attention to the phenomenon of autism.

“I appreciate your coming in Albania. Your visit here is an appreciation for the center. You accepted our invitation immediately and it is impressive to us because it shows your interest as a woman towards problems of children and their parents. Your representative as the Ambassador of such a big and developed country like China, shows about the importance given to this disorder today. ”

The Ambassador expressed gratitude for the reviving hope to families of children with autism spectrum disorder. “I am very touched by what I see here.This shows that you have worked hard to bring hope to these people who have lost it.. Here I see happy children who are not distinguished from other normal children, and it shows that you are on the right track. ”

H.E Mrs. Ambassador. Jiang Yu, brought some gifts for kids meantime Dr. Liri Berisha between exchanges of gifts gave to the Ambassador as a recognition of a painting made by Sara.

Dr.Liri Berisha,Global Autism Achievement Award.

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Dr. Liri Berisha, president of Albanian Children Foundation is awarded by the International organization “Autism Speaks” in New York with the Second Annual Bob and Suzanne Wright Global Autism Achievement Award.

Dr. Liri Berisha, president of Albania Children Foundation is awarded by the International organization “Autism Speaks” in New York with the Second Annual Bob and Suzanne Wright Global Autism Achievement Award.This award that was presented to Ms. Berisha during the Seventh Annual World Focus on Autism meeting that is taking place alongside the United

Nation General Assembly meeting in New York City comes as a recognition of:

– Dr. Liri Berisha remarkable leadership in autism community, for raising public and professional awareness of autism in Albania;

– establishing a state-of-the-art clinicalcenter for services, training and research in Tirana;

– supporting the launch of Southeast European Autism Network of ministries of health from regional countries;

– participating in UN and World Health Organization technical consultations as well.

This award was personally presented to Dr. Liri Berisha by the cofounders

of the international organization “Autism Speaks”, Bob and Suzanne Wright, in the presence of many first spouses from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, who have been inspired by Dr. Liri Berisha leadership and commitment.

Ms. Wright said: “Dr.Liri Berisha is a unique combination of a visionary and a fighter. I knew, from he first moment we met at the Shafallah Forum in Qatar way back in 2008 that she would change the world. She has changed the future for people with autism in Albania and now she is working on the entire region. Ladies and gentlemen please join me and giving a warm applause to my girlfriend Liri.”

Dr. Liri Berisha, being very honored by this award, said:

“Dear Suzanne and Bob, this those who are challenged by autism in the world. As a mother, pediatrician and the president of the Albanian Children Foundation, I cannot think of a better recognition for the hard work and achievements we have made over the past years, improving the lives of all those affected by autism in Albania.”

The international organization “Autism Speaks” during the Seventh Annual World Focus on Autism meeting in New York, stressed the rapid increasing of children with autism in the world and the increasing needs of this community. Data suggests that autism affects approximately 1% of the global population. One of the essential issues for discussion were the opportunities of turning innovation into real actions, an effort led by Autism Speaks to address the universal challenge of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) through awareness-raising and service improvement.

The Foundation at the Prague Forum ON INVESTING IN YOUNG CHILDREN GLOBALLY

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The American National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and the American Institute of Medicine in partnership with the Open Society Foundation (OSF) and the ISSAP Organization gathered on 4 November 2015 in Prague, experts and heads of international organizations, universities and agencies, for the Forum on Investing in young Children Globally. We ended the 15 years era of Millennium Development Goals and from September 2015 the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals where the development of children and early intervention occupy a specific and important place for the 15 years to come. Prague Forum, with a view to reach out to recommendations on local and regional policies, future studies and new services, was built as a platform for discussion of global actors among the most important in the field. Dr. Liri Berisha President of the Albanian Children Foundation, was invited to the Forum to introduce the model of early intervention on autism in Albania, chosen by organizers as one of the ‘best practices’ in the region. In her speech Dr. Liri Berisha, expressing her gratitude and appreciation for this invitation, said: “I think our history is generally a success story. Above all we have revived hope in a poor country with many problems where, despite progress, the burden on households remains high “. In his speech, Dr. Ariel Çomo Scientific and Research director of the Regional Center for Autism mentioned, inter alia, the importance from the beginning given to the research and data collection on implementation of the program in Tirana as a key element in the progress of early intervention programs in children with developmental problems.

At the conclusion of the Forum, the  Final Report compiled on the basis of referred data and discussions will be sent to the American Government to develop further policies and initiatives in the field of developmental problems.


Albanian Children Foundation becomes member of Autism European Organization.

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Children Foundation participated The General Assembly of the leader organization in Europe for Autism “Autism Europe”, which was held on May 1- 3, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain.

In this Assembly, Albanian Children Foundation represented by Dr. Liri Berisha, received the highest praises by members of the Organization for the work done so far in these seven years in terms of supporting children with autism spectrum disorder. Appreciating the leader role in Europe of this organization in terms of lobbying and supporting the autism issue, Dr. Liri Berisha presented the activities of the Foundation and the Regional Centers for Autism established in Albania, conveying the gratitude and appreciation for the international organizations that have supported so far the Albanian Children Foundation.

During her speech, Dr. Liri Berisha emphasized the reasons why the Albanian Children Foundation must be a member of the great European family “Autism Europe” promising closer cooperation in the future with its member organizations in order to exchange best practices on autism issue. Ms. Zsuzsanna Szilvasy, President of Autism Europe praised the achievements of Albanian Children Foundation, progress which she said has personally followed since the establishment of the Foundation till now. She said: “What the Albanian Children Foundation has done is a short time, in terms of supporting children with autism in Albania and the region is a revolution compared to other European countries that have dozens of years of experience in dealing with this challenge of millennium, the battle against Autism”.

“Autism Europe” organization is the leading organization for Europe’s largest autism issues. It consists of 80 organizations and associations from 30 different European countries and has a strong influence in lobbying on the issue of the rights of persons with autism. The organization has a 40 year experience and is composed from the level of decision-taking to that of membership, by persons with autism spectrum disorder, parents of children with autism, doctors, clinicians, psychologists, psycho- sociologist therapists etc. that besides that produce services for people with autism spectrum disorder, are dedicated and mediate to their governments for better policies and more stable in terms of autism issue.

Albanian Children Foundation empowers the techniques of intervention for children with autism.

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Now adult children suffering from autism do not feel abandoned anymore. Intervention opportunities for this age are becoming real for the first time in Albania. Thanks to the latest techniques being introduced by the Albanian Children Foundation, the Regional Center for Autism in Farka has provided its therapists with the most recently method, “Pivotal Response treatment” that helps adult children to easily develop skills acquired through individual therapy, in any other premises that the child goes.

Regional Center for Autism in Farka put another milestone in terms of treating Autism spectrum disorder expanding its professionals’ vision. With the support of the Albanian Children Foundation, the Regional Autism Center held a few day training for its staff of therapists with new methods of treatment for children affected by the autism spectrum disorder. For this purpose, with the recommendation of the “Autism Speaks” International Organization, the Foundation has invited to Albania two trainers from California, US that are part of one of the most avanguard communities in the application of modern methods of autism spectrum disorder. They are Janice Chan and Tiffany Wang of the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, which are experts specialized in one of the latest and contemporary methods called “Pivotal Response Teaching” (PRT).

Under the guidance and assistance of the two trainers, PRT methods is introduced for the first time in Albania by Albanian Children Foundation for the professionals working with children in the Regional Center for Autism in Farka. This training would not have been possible without the chain of training currently available in the ABA, which principles are applied in the Center.

Ms. Tiffany Wang, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital, San
Diego says: The Pivotal Response Treatment pays much attention and takes advantage is that it focuses in motivating the child. First we see what the child likes more and after we receive these preferences, we keep the level of motivation so that he might be ready and disposed to be learned. The advantage of this method from the others is its naturalness. So, this can develop into any environment from teacher, parent or therapist and skill’s development is easier at the therapy rooms, at home or in class.

But what are the benefits for children affected by autism spectrum by implementing this method?

Janice Chan, expert at the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, says: What we are doing at the Autism Center in Farka is moving this intervention from one to one therapy to group therapy. I was informed that the Albanian Children Foundation is preparing for the opening of a center with different classes for older children and what brings this training is to use this method in classes. This model empowers the treatment received till now and raises it to a new level to intervene in more complicated and problematic cases of autism spectrum disorder. This working model after learned from the therapists, adds the interventionist techniques skills, which in other words means: all this will be translated into interventions to a greater number of children, whether they are older or untreated before.

International Autism Congress in Kuwait honors Dr.Liri Berisha with the Gartitude Award.

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The 4th International Autism Congress was held in Kuwait, an international event that takes place every four years with the participation of all countries around the world. In this Congress, Albania was represented by Dr. Liri Berisha, President of Albanian Children Foundation, as the guest of honor and as an activist on autism efforts.

In this congress, with World Autism Organization and Kuwait Center for Autism as the main supporters, representatives of various organizations working in the field of autism, doctors, clinicians, researchers and prominent authors on autism methods participated. At the opening ceremony of the congress, the invited dignitaries were received by the Secretary of the State of Kuwait, sister of the H.H Emir of Kuwait and representatives of Kuwaiti Centre

for Autism.An important moment in the opening ceremony was honoring Dr. Liri Berisha with the Gratitude award as a prominent activist on autism, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Kuwait Center for Autism.

This center in Kuwait, as Dr. Berisha stressed in her speech, has served as a working model for establishing the Regional Center for Autism in Farka, which opened in November 2011 and was built thanks to the support of a verygenerous grant of Euro 250,000 by the Kuwait Public Foundation “Awqaf” .This award was an appraise of the Albanian Children Foundation’s efforts in development and empowerment mission of children with autism in Albania.

This award was given to several other world dignitaries who have provided valuable Congress

assistance in this field.

Dr. Ariel Como, Scientific Director of the Regional Center for Autism in Farka, participant in this congress and Dr. Liri Berisha had a working lunch with Mr. James Partington, the developer of ABLLS method – a method widely used around the world even in Albanian for children with autism. During the meeting with Mr. James Partington experiences were exchanged and discussed possibilities of providing a training package for our therapists in order to use this very useful method in the treatment of children with autism.

The innovations brought by the best authors of the methods used today in the world for autism therapies, were the most important part of discussions at this congress. During these three days very valuable experiences were exchanged and developed a series of meetings between representatives of organizations dealing with autism and children with disabilities, from Spain, Qatar, Kuwait, Kosovo and other personalities of this field.

Denada, mamja Emilisë , sfidon Autizmin e së bijës duke sjellë në jetë djem binjakë në ditën ndërkombëtare të Autizmit. (EN)

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Denada Çapi: “Autism is not a tragedy, the ignorance is!”

Emili, a 7 year old girl from Durrës and one of the many children of the Regional Center for Autism in Farka, has delivered a strong message to her parents. With only two years of therapy she has surprised everyone about the progress she has made ; not only did she turned down the speculations if one day she will be a normal child, but encouraged her parents to open their heart and arms to two new lives just to challenge this April 2. Denada Çapi, the heroine and courageous Emili’s mother, on the eve of World Autism Awareness Day and just a few days before she brings to life these 2 angels, shares with us the successes of Emili and enthusiasm of becoming a mother for the third time and these time double.

How is Emili improving? How is she today?

We meet again after a year. I would say that this year has been a different innovation for Emili. Emili has had many progresses, has made greater steps compared to a year ago. She began to speak, to make sentences and above all understand, that for me this is the most important. That means she has progressed immensely. She has changed a lot from year to year.

Have you expected this immense change to Emili?

No! No! I had not expected it. Because I had read a lot and had the idea that as soon as it was diagnosed it was better and later diagnosed fewer results. But everything turned out differently. Although Emili was diagnosed a bit late because she began therapy at the Albanian Children Foundation only at age of 5, yet she has achieved a lot.

Do you feel satisfied that every effort you made for your daughter is being rewarded by Emili?

A lot. First of all I thank God from the bottom of my heart. When Emily was born, maybe not every mother would accept it. I became a little selfish and hypocrite. I began asking myself: Why I? Why me? But seeing Emili, the outstanding work that is done with Emili and it has given its fruits, today I thank God from the bottom of my heart. If someone would ask to go back to the second pregnancy to choose another child, sincerely, I swear that would never chose another child. I would chose Emili again!

Meanwhile, we have news from you. Emili will soon have two brothers and your family will extend. Was this a difficult decision for you?

These boys have really been a surprise. It was unplanned. It was as emotional in terms of panic as well as in terms of a new adventure, but I believe it will be full of love. Personally, I was just a little bit afraid, but positively. While my husband and other family members a little bit more afraid. I do not blame them for this. But today we are quiet. We can’t wait for the babies but the person who could hardly wait is Emili. Emilia has made us all to welcome these children with so much love and we imagine that two younger brothers will be good to her too.

Usually, we have noticed that when there have been born children as in the case of Emily, parents deterred other pregnancies. It was not your case. You got over your will and fate.

I would like to say to all the mothers who have a child with problem, such as that of autism, or health, social, economic problems, etc., a child is a blessing, a blessing from God and helps in the process of family happiness. This is very important. Many see this initiative as a hard venture, another one is surprised. Although they do not express it, but the way they see me, it seems like they say me two things: is she heroine or crazy?! I think none of them. It is simply the desire of a mother. Taking into consideration the joy the first two girls brought to me, two boys would bring even greater joy.

Why did you choose to bring to life these children on April 2?

Yes! I wanted so, to bring to life on April 2. The reason is great. As this day is World Autism Awareness Day, as a mother I would like spiritually and emotionally, to make a protest, primarily within myself, then tell everyone that although various diseases affect people, or different problems affect our health, we are still here, we are regenerating. This is a kind of challenge. A gentle challenge to reality because life goes on.  And what’s most beautiful than two little angels coming to life! Whatever these two angels will be, I accept my fate again.

What is your message on World Autism Awareness Day?

I will deliver my message not only to mothers who have an autistic children, also to all people. Symbolically referring to the pea that Albanian Children Foundation has chosen for Autism, where a grain is small, another is soft, another grain might be strong, I would first say to mothers: Patience!  We must accept our fate and not oppose it. Not complain why it happened to me, but how would I handle it. The moment that the mother accepts the fact that I have a health problem with my child, I’m sure that everything will later go better.

Strongest message will go to fathers. For me, a mother who has an autistic child, is the heroine, because she must leave everything aside, herself, home and other children to take care of the autistic child, educate and integrate him. I deliver this message to fathers for more motivation, kindness and help first towards their wives, mothers of their children and their children. If they do not understand us, there is no one else who can understands us.

I thank all the people who stand by me, that understand me; I thank those that understand Emili and would like this awareness be extended in the entire country, because Ignorance is tragedy. Autism is not any tragedy.

Durrës, April 2014