Overcoming Autism combats “negative stigma”

«Our journey began when Caui was 9 years old», says Joe Santos, one of the founders, together with his wife, Susana Silva, of the Vencer Autismo association. «We worked with her intensely, 32 hours a week for two years, which resulted in incredible progress. Today, she is 24 years old and completely autonomous», she explained to Diário de Aveiro, on the sidelines of a public session that took place yesterday afternoon at the city’s Congress Center.
Their daughter is an example of the work that can be done. “We want everyone to know that many people with autism are extremely happy and that, by providing them with the right tools, they can live full and independent lives. Our experience has shown us that understanding autism is essential to being part of the solution.”
Promoted by Vencer Autismo with the support of Zurich Portugal, “Understanding autism” aimed to reflect on the concerns of people with autism spectrum disorders and those around them. “One of the biggest difficulties that people with autism and their families face is the negative stigma and lack of understanding on the part of society”, highlights Joe Santos. “Often,” he adds, “repetitive behaviors, which are, in fact, a way of dealing with excess sensory stimuli due to their high sensitivity, are misinterpreted as a sign of distress. The real problem arises when no one around understands these manifestations, leading to feelings of isolation and wrong judgments».