15 years from the founding of the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism

Dear colleagues and friends,

At the 22^nd  of May in 2000, the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism was formed. At the Institute for Immunobiology and Human Genetics within the Medical Faculty in Skopje, the founders gathered: Prof. Dr. Ljubomir Ajdinski, Prof. Dr. Mirko Spiroski, Prof. Dr. Dragoslav Kopacev, Prof. Dr. Kristin Vasilevska and Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski (at that time assistant) and dozens others colleges from the Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation within the Faculty of Philosophy and from the Institute for Immunobiology and Human Genetics. We brought up the statute for MSSA who since then has underwent several changes with the new laws.

In the past few years it wasn’t easy at all to be able to realize the goals and tasks that are set in the statute.

- Primary prevention for the people with autism;

- Research of the mechanisms that are related with autism;

- Research of the effects from the rehabilitation of people with autism;

- Treatment for people with autism;

- Co-operation with the families of the people with autism;

- Coordination of government and non government organizations who work in the field of autism;

- Educating professional staff.

Right away we declared two pamphlets for autism in Macedonia and for the society, as well as two web pages Autism Macedonia and the official web page of MSSA which up to today has changed from the first time it has been released, and a brochure for the Rights of the people with autism in  Republic of Macedonia.

In the past 15 years we have published two books titled „Autism“ and „Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders“ which are intended for the education of special educators and rehabilitators, medical doctors, psychologists, social workers and other professional profiles that are involved in the field of autism. We achieved excellent cooperation with many families and I truly hope that we have helped them how to deal and cope with this difficult social medical and mental health problem.

Our members have participated over a dozen of seminars and conferences in Macedonia and abroad. We have realized more over then 10 professional and scientific projects that were from national and international character. Our members have published around sixty professional and scientific papers from who most can be found on this link. Our papers have been cited in worlds renowned scientific magazines. We have organized three debates for Down syndrome together with our partners from Trisomy 21 Zagreb.

We have organized three Christmas parties, an art workshop in the lecture hall of the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, together with the Apolonija Fondation we opened 4 sensor rooms in the southern parts of Republic of Macedonia. We have signed several agreements for cooperation with non governmental organizations from the region and Macedonia, like „Dar“ from Belgrade, „Rubikon“ from Skopje, Trisomy 21 Zagreb, „Vo mojot svet“ Skopje, „Enigma Macedonia“.

This month we have realized a tuition for autism intended for the teachers of the Primary school Joakim Krcoski from the village of Volkovo. There are many other activities and arrangements of the members of MSSA who selflessly have been embedding themselves in this great puzzle. But, here there is not enough time or space to note all of the activities. Let this video serve as a short retrospective from the appearance of the president of the society in the morning show „Macedonia in the morning“ on MRT that took place on the 21^st of May 2015 which will follow in addition and it lasts 13 minutes.

President of MSSA