Autism Week in Chemnitz
Wide range of events on the subject of autism from 28 March to 2 April
Autism Week will take place in Chemnitz for the first time from 28 March to 2 April. This is the first time that the topic of autism has been publicly addressed in Chemnitz. Together with the Autism Centre Chemnitz and the SFZ Förderzentrum gGmbH, Petra Liebetrau, Disability Officer for the City of Chemnitz, has organised a wide range of activities.
Each day during the theme week is dedicated to a special focus, for example the topics of school, work or organising one's life. The events include various formats in order to appeal to as many people as possible. There will be lectures, book readings, discussions, a film screening, information stands and, above all, time for discussion. Renowned speakers and valuable information from the Autism Centre Chemnitz and the SFZ Support Centre will accompany the week.
The opening ceremony will take place on 28 March from 2 p.m. in the Carlowitz Congress Centre, Carlowitz Hall. Among others, Dr Mark Benecke and Stephanie Fuhrmann from the White Unicorn e. V. association will present their research on the topic of "Obstacles for autistic children when learning at school". In addition, representatives of the German Autism Association will introduce the developments, achievements and perspectives of autism infrastructures in the regional context. On 2 April, World Autism Awareness Day, the Metropol cinema will be showing the documentary "Sandman" by Mark Michel at 10.30 am.
Autism Week aims to provide answers to various questions: Is autism a disability? What do autistic people feel? How do they see us, who (have to) live without this speciality? What can we all do for a better understanding and good co-operation?
All events are free of charge, please register via the citizen participation portal. The programme and further information can be found here.
About the event partners:
The Chemnitz Autism Centre was founded in 2004 and is an institution based in Chemnitz with a branch in Annaberg-Buchholz. It offers individual counselling, care and support, assistance and coaching, support services, encouragement and training as well as further training on the subject of autism. The centre is run by the non-profit and charitable Regionalverband Autismus Chemnitz e. V., which supports the interests of autistic people as well as their parents, relatives, friends and professionals. The association was founded in 1990 by families with autistic relatives.
The SFZ Förderzentrum gGmbH was founded in 1991. It is responsible for the Chemnitz Vocational Training Centre with around 250 trainees who are blind or visually impaired, mentally ill or autistic, as well as the workshop for disabled people with currently 83 employees. In addition, SFZ Förderzentrum gGmbH offers residential and day structure for adults with complex impairments, blindness and visual impairment, is a provider of independent youth welfare with outpatient and inpatient services for young people as part of educational assistance and operates inclusive kindergartens.