15 YEARS FROM THE FORMING OF THE MACEDONIAN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY FOR AUTISM

Abstract

15 years ago, on 22 May, 2000, the Mace-donian Scientific Society for Autism (MSSA) was established. From that day until today MSSA has left a huge impact in the field of raising the public awareness, providing assistance to parents and children with autism, formation of public opinion about the autism issues, making a huge contribution, especially in terms of the science of autism. In few words, MSSA has left a mark not only in Macedonia, but also in many countries in the region and with its constant, hard-wor-king and scientifically underpinned practice.
Today MSSA has 60 members¹, most of whom are highly educated experts who, in the last 15 years, have contributed in different ways in the field of education, rehabilitation and treatment of people with autism. As a main indicator for this are the 50 and more published papers² in renowned international journals as well as in Macedonian journals such as the Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation.
In the past period, there were 11 projects³ from which several stand out:

1. Serum immunoglobulins and specific food allergens in people with autism in the Republic of Macedonia;
2. HLA - DNA research in families with autism in the Republic of Macedonia;
3. The rights of persons with autism;
4. Epidemiological studies of people with autism in the Republic of Macedonia;
5. Determination of the prevalence and incidence of autism in the Republic of Macedonia;

On the official site of MSSA (http://mssa.org.mk/) various types of information⁴ are available for anyone who wants to be informed and to know more about the work and mission of MSSA as well as for the autism are available.
MSSA members have participated in more than a dozen seminars and congresses in the country, and abroad. MSSA appears as organizer⁵ and co-organizer with other associations, institutions, and companies of seminars, congresses and conferences where different kinds of problems in the field of autism are discussed. MSSA has also organized three public debates⁶ for Down syndrome (with which MSSA expands its field of activity outside of autism). MSSA has organized workshops for primary schools to educate teachers about autism. The presence of MSSA in the media⁷ is also noticeable. For 5 years, starting from 2010 until now, MSSA marks April 2 – World’s Autism Awareness Day⁸ to raise public awareness of autism by organizing public debates which are attended by a number of artists, musicians and a large number of people with autism. The President of MSSA Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski has published two textbooks on autism.
For these 15 years, MSSA has left a great legacy that can be easily recognized, but MSSA’s mission⁹ does not stop there, it continues every day with increasing venture of our membership, and scientific achie¬vements in the field of autism.