The event featured a mix of interactive workshops, a live podcast recording, and a panel discussion, as part of a programme to give attendees a firsthand understanding of the experiences of people with autism.
The centerpiece of the event was an immersive circuit consisting of four stations, designed to help participants understand, experience, and reflect on the needs of people with ASD and on the role of family and community in creating inclusive environments.
Among the activities offered, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the work of service dogs that assist children with ASD. Representatives from UNE, an organization dedicated to social service dogs, emphasized: “It’s important for people to be aware of this resource; while they’re becoming more common on the streets, they’re still largely unknown.”
Another activity was the “language-free bookstore,” an initiative designed to explore language beyond words. Likewise, by using virtual reality goggles, participants were able to step into the shoes of people with this diagnosis, experiencing everyday situations from a different sensory perspective. Meli Martínez, from GATEA, explained: “Everyday things for us, like walking through a shopping mall, are a major challenge for many people with autism, since all this sensory information can lead to emotional dysregulation or a loss of control.”
The event was rounded out by VenTEA, which hosted a screening of an adapted film, as well as the recording of several podcasts for GATEA’s YouTube channel and an exhibition of materials aimed at psychology students, with the goal of providing them with practical tools for their future careers: “They’re given a whole range of tools so that if they go to a healthcare facility, they can put them into practice.”
