Story 1
The day we were diagnosed with autism, we stepped into one of the most difficult periods of our lives at our home in Ankara’s Sincan district. At that moment, my world went dark, I felt an indescribable emptiness inside me. While I was worried about my child, I also didn’t know what to do or what path to follow. Amid these complex emotions, I began to think about how I could benefit from the opportunities that living in Sincam offered us.
I researched on the internet for a few days, spent time in autism-related forums, and read the experiences of families experiencing similar situations. During this process, I learned about the existence of Sincan Guidance and Research Center (Sincan RAM). When I learned that they provide support services for children with autism and their families, a ray of hope lit up in me. Maybe there was a light at the end of this dark tunnel.
I started collecting the necessary documents to apply to Sincan RAM. During this process, I brought together all my child’s health reports, diagnostic documents and other necessary documents about us. Collecting each document also showed me how serious and official this process was. While I was dealing with all this paperwork, I was also worried about how I could offer my child a better future.
When we applied to Sincan RAM, we were welcomed by a very understanding and helpful team. The experts involved in our application process examined my child’s situation in detail and guided us on what we could do. During this process, we learned about special education and therapy programs for my child. Additionally, we were advised to attend informational meetings and training seminars organized for families of children with autism.
Experts guided us on how to start my child’s education, which therapies might be suitable for him, and what path we should follow as a family. During this process, it was very valuable for me to understand my child’s special needs and learn how we can support him. We also had the opportunity to meet other families going through similar situations and share our experiences with them. This made us feel like we were not alone and gave us strength during this difficult journey.
Our experience at Sincan RAM gave us a ray of hope during this difficult process. He gave us a road map on doing what’s best for my child. This process also showed me that, although difficult, my child can be a happy and successful individual with the support and education appropriate to his special needs. The support that living in Sincan and having access to a resource like Sincan RAM provided us during this difficult journey was invaluable.
Nuriye(Sevim’s mother)
Story 2
Look, life sometimes presents you with such a turning point that you have to put aside everything you know and all your experiences. This is exactly how my story started. I had two children and everything was fine. Going to the park with them, having picnics on weekends, taking them to bed in the evenings and telling them stories… The routines in our lives were full of small happiness. Then our third child was born and everything changed.
With the birth of our third child, a new joy and excitement entered our lives. At first everything seemed normal. But as time went by, we began to notice that our son was a little different from other children. It took us a while to realize this at first. Maybe we didn’t want to accept it. However, over time, seeing that our son was not at the same level of development as his peers became an undeniable fact.
The day we learned that our son had severe autism, our world collapsed. We never expected something like this. When I first heard it, I felt an emptiness inside me. “Why U.S?” I couldn’t help but ask. Then, I experienced many emotions at the same time, such as guilt, anger, and sadness. It was not easy to deal with these feelings. I felt lost, didn’t know what to do.
My wife and I talked for a long time. And we realized that we have to do what is best for our son. Fighting for him, supporting him and trying to understand his world… This was our new mission. Of course, we encountered difficulties in this process. Our son needed special education, therapies and doctor appointments, and our life changed completely.
But over time, I realized that this situation was a learning process not only for our son, but also for us. Our son taught us patience, that love is unconditional, and that even if we sometimes encounter unexpected situations in life, we can overcome them. Every member of our family has become a stronger, more understanding and more loving person because of our son.
When I look back now, I see how much this journey changed us. Yes, we were scared and worried at first, but now we are stronger. We know that our son is special and that he has a beautiful and valuable place in this world. We are proud of her and grateful for everything she has brought to our lives.
Although it has been a road full of difficulties, this journey has taught us the true meaning of love, patience and resilience. And I realized that everything in life happens for a reason. The lessons our son taught us have made our lives better and more meaningful. I grow and learn with him and try to be a better father every day. This story is not just our son’s story, it is also our story. And in this story, we open a new page every day, we make a new beginning.
Mehmet (Father of Ali, Ece and Fatma)
Story 3
Life has never been easy for me. I got married at a young age and for many years my biggest dream was to have a child. But this dream never came true. With each passing day, as I pursued this dream, despair grew within me. Everyone around me had children and I witnessed their happiness. My arms were left empty. “Maybe God has forgotten me,” I sometimes thought. But then, a miracle happened. Years later, I found out that I had unexpectedly become pregnant. At that moment I felt like the happiest person in the world. My dreams were finally coming true.
When my daughter was born, I looked at her and said, “It was worth all the waiting.” Her small hands, her innocent eyes… Everything about her was perfect. But as time went by, I realized with a mother’s instincts that something wasn’t right. My daughter reacted differently than her peers and was lagging behind in some developmental stages.
Then that day came she. When I learned in the doctor’s office that my daughter had autism spectrum disorder, my world went dark. My first reaction was, “God is punishing me.” I prayed for a child for years, and now, learning about my daughter’s situation broke my heart. I was ashamed, not for my daughter, but because of these thoughts that came from within me. I didn’t want to tell anyone about this situation. I isolated myself from society, even from my family. When I thought, “My daughter is different,” I felt a pain inside me.
But then, over time, things started to change. Every day I spent with my daughter helped me understand her world a little more. He showed his love, which he could not express in words, with the sparkle in his eyes and with the hand he held tightly. And I realized that the love my daughter taught me is not subject to any conditions.
Over time, I began to accept my daughter’s situation. And more importantly, I realized that my daughter was God’s blessing to me, not a punishment. I felt the presence of God in my daughter’s every smile, every success, and her tiny steps. There was a world full of patience, love and understanding that He taught me.
Now, I find every moment I spend with my daughter precious. Yes, our life may not be “normal” in the eyes of others. But everything my daughter has taught me makes this life worth living. I no longer have shame, I have pride in my daughter. And I know that everyone’s life journey is different. Mine is so much richer and more meaningful because of my daughter.
This story is my daughter’s and my story. And every day, we add a new page to this story. With the love, patience and strength my daughter has taught me, I know we can overcome every challenge life throws at us. Now I know that God gives us difficulties not to punish us, but to teach us and grow us. My daughter is the greatest lesson and greatest blessing in my life.
Ayşe (Zeynep’s mother)
Story 4
The day Zsófia was diagnosed with autism in Budapest, Hungary, their families experienced a great shock. They didn’t know what to do at first and they were in despair. However, after a while, they realized that action was needed to meet Zsófia’s needs. After contacting the local health center in Budapest, they learned about early childhood intervention (ECI) services for Zsófia’s treatment. They understood the importance of the support these services offer to children with autism and their families. They met with experts at the health center to create a plan tailored to Zsófia’s needs. Throughout Zsófia’s treatment process, the impact of early childhood intervention programs and therapies in Budapest became evident. The family followed Zsófia’s development closely and took the necessary steps to support her. During this process, the guidance of experts at the health center was of great importance to determine the best approach for Zsófia’s education and therapy. Early childhood intervention programs in Budapest, combined with the support the family provided to Zsófia, produced positive results. Zsófia improved over time and became a source of great joy for her family. During this process, the importance of ECI and the impact of early intervention in the treatment of children with autism became clear. Thanks to early childhood intervention programs in Budapest, Zsófia’s family learned how important early intervention is to improve the lives of children with autism. This experience also provided hope and inspiration to other families, as they saw that with the correct application of ECI, children with autism can realize their full potential.
Story 5
The day we received the autism diagnosis, in our small flat in the center of Prague, I felt like a chapter of our lives had ended and we had opened the door to a new beginning. At that moment, I was in an emotional storm, filled with hope, excitement and uncertainty. While I was worried about my child, I also started to think about how we could help him and what we should do on this new journey. I started researching the opportunities offered by Prague, searching for a light within these complex emotions. I spent several days researching online, reviewing autism resources and reading stories of families who shared similar experiences. During this process, I discovered the existence of the Early Childhood Intervention Center in Prague. When I learned that they offer support and resources for children with autism and their families, my hope grew even more. Perhaps we have found a source of guidance that can help us in this new beginning. I started preparing the necessary documents to apply to the Early Childhood Intervention Center. I have collected all my child’s health records, diagnostic documents, and other necessary documents. During this process, I once again gained awareness of the importance of each document and the seriousness of this process. While collecting the documents, I felt excitement and hope for my child. When we applied to the center, they welcomed us warmly. Experts evaluated my child’s condition in detail and guided us on what steps to take. We received information about special education and therapy programs and were advised to attend support groups for families of children with autism. Experts guided us on how to begin my child’s education, which therapies are most appropriate, and how we can support him as a family. During this process, I gained a better understanding of my child’s special needs and became more aware of how we could help him. We also had the opportunity to meet and share our experiences with other families who shared similar experiences. This sense of support and solidarity gave us strength during this difficult journey. Our time at the Early Childhood Intervention Center guided us and gave us hope in this new beginning. It shed light on us on the path to doing what is best for my child. This process showed that with support and education appropriate to my child’s special needs, he too can be a happy and successful individual. The support that living in Prague and having access to a resource like the Early Childhood Intervention Center has provided us throughout this challenging journey has been invaluable.