Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine October 2022 | Page 11

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As I write this reflection and think about autism in Ukraine , I ponder on what I have seen and what is yet to come . It is inspiring that Ukrainians will not give up this fight for freedom and democracy . At the same time , it remains unclear what will happen to people with autism , regardless of the outcome of the war . I am very aware that the most vulnerable can often be lost in the crossfire .
There are no easy solutions to any of these concerns . Only emotions .
In the end , I know that Ukraine is a more inclusive nation than Russia , and I pray Ukraine wins . I pray that Ukraine maintains sovereignty and territorial integrity . But I also think about everything Ukraine has already lost . Children with autism are being misplaced and forced to live in frightening and unstructured circumstances . They are not able to attend regular therapy sessions with the teachers and therapists who understand them best . Their parents are challenged with new circumstances and survival . In many cases , this means abandoning everything that is familiar to flee to safety .
Ultimately , I am left with the realization that although progress results from the circumstances that allow for societal change , it is also a mindset . With great hope , I think that maybe , just maybe , progress has not been thwarted . I pray that instead , progress has been only temporarily halted as a determined people fight for truth and justice . And that belief is further strengthened when I hear of heroes such as my friend Natalya , who works at another center in Lviv . She tells me that despite the constant sound of air sirens , she will be returning to the center this week to work with autistic children . Though I fear for my friend , I am also inspired by her courage and determination .
Professionals and parents in Ukraine understand that separating autistic children from their peers or putting them in custodial care is simply not an option anymore . Maintaining consistency and providing normalcy , even in dire circumstances , is the only hope for making progress . When Ukraine wins this war , we must unequivocally ensure that the country ’ s most vulnerable people are accepted , supported and celebrated . As the Ukrainian nation will inevitably need to rebuild , I pray that the resources that are most needed for those with disabilities are not the last available , and that people with autism are encouraged to find their voices in a better Ukraine , just like they have been in a free and democratic U . S . Quite frankly , that is the only way any of this senselessness will make any sense .
Chrystina Dolyniuk is associate professor of psychology at Rider University in Lawrenceville , New Jersey . She holds a Ph . D . in educational and developmental psychology and was awarded two Fulbright Specialist grants to travel and work in Ukraine in 2011 and 2014 . Her research focuses on the community integration of people with autism . This article was originally published on Spectrum , the leading site for autism research news .