Kinder Care Facilities in Berlin Being Transformed into Services for Children with Autism
Playground Buddies: The Struggles of a Special Needs Child and His Parents
Imagine playing with your child at the park while other parents drop their kids off at daycare. That's the daily routine for Faezeh Babaei, whose son Daniel has early childhood autism. At three, Daniel was kicked out of daycare after only six months, with the explanation that he has unique requirements.
Autism, a part of the autism spectrum, is characterized by difficulties in social communication and interaction, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities. Approximately 1% of children in Germany are diagnosed with autism, with boys being more affected than girls.
While children like Daniel are legally entitled to care from an integration educator for half a position, Barbara Wohlleben, from the Berlin branch of Autism Germany, warns that daycare centers often struggle to accommodate these special needs due to insufficient staff capability and a lack of specialized professionals.
This lack is also echoed by Monika Lapinski, the inclusion officer of the social carrier association Kleiner Fratz. The additional support measures such as integration assistance or individual care require complex applications and sometimes are not granted in the long term.
Babaei, who deals with authorities daily, claims they lack the necessary expertise. She longs for some time off, sports, a German course, and vocational training but cannot find the support needed to make it happen.
Autistic children require adaptations in their environment, such as low-stimulation rooms, structure, and rituals, to learn and feel comfortable. Parents play a crucial role in ensuring that these strategies are applied at home.
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In their latest report, the Senate-appointed family advisory board criticizes the exclusion of children like Daniel from daycare. They blame a lack of specialist doctors, therapy facilities, suitable childcare, and school places, as well as the poor assumption of responsibility by relevant authorities for this situation.
Babaei lives this neglect daily. Despite contact with the youth welfare office, she lacks the specialized expertise she needs. The problem is not just time or money—it's understanding.
In Berlin, changes are needed to improve the integration of autistic children into daycare centers. This includes family-centered support, staff training, coordinated care, individualized strategies, and increased access to special education resources. Together, these steps can help foster inclusion and developmental success for children with autism in early education settings.
- The hurried journey for family-centered support in Berlin's daycare centers continues, as parents voiced concerns about the lack of integration for children with autism.
- The recent report from the family advisory board in Berlin has highlighted a pressing concern, emphasizing the need for specialist doctors, therapy facilities, suitable childcare, and school places for autistic children.
- A call for action is being made in Berlin, targeting staff training, coordinated care, individualized strategies, and increased access to special education resources to foster inclusion and developmental success for children with autism in early education settings.
