Presentation of Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski on promotion of the Erasmus plus project "Autism Friendly Spaces". The event was realized in Museum of Macedonian Struggle in Skopje, Macedonia at May 11th, 2022.

1. Autism Friendly Spaces | Пријателски места за аутизам 2019-2-MT01-KA205-051286
Autism friendly spaces - a step
forward in social inclusion
Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski
Skopje, 11.05.2022

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4. Introduction
• Autism Friendly Spaces is a concept created to address the needs of persons on the autism
spectrum.
• It offers an educational aspect through online modules, criteria and guidelines for shops and
services to apply for an AFS award and how to create an inclusive youth center.
• The questions we should ask ourselves when trying to create an autism-friendly environment
1. Visual sense (Sight)
2. Auditory sense (Hearing)
3. Touch and pressure sense
4. Olfactory sense (Smell)
5. Taste sense
6. Vestibular sense (Balance)
7. Proprioceptive sense (Space)
8. Who will use the space?
9. What the space will be used for?
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5. Project objectives
– Adjusting environments to be more accessible to people with
autism;
– Providing training and creating awareness in the community;
– Helping the social aspect for youth with autism.
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6. Partners
• Prisms Malta (Coordinator),
• Autism Europe,
• Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism
• Agenzija Zghazagh,
• Commission of the Rights of Persons with Disability Malta,
• Learning Designers.
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7. Financing
• It is funded by Erasmus+ funds through the European Union.
• Erasmus + Key Action 205 - Strategic Partnerships for youth
• AGREEMENT NUMBER – 2019-2-MT01-KA205-051286.
• Duration: 2019-2022
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8. Project web site
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https://autismfriendlyspaces.eu/
More than 200 registered users from Macedonia

9. Online modules
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10. Meetings
• 1 Meeting in Malta 12-16 November 2019
• Around 8 ZOOM meetings 2020-2022
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11. Macedonian delegation on training in Malta
• 6 youths from Macedonia visited training in Malta from 23 to 29
January 2022
• Nada Dupjachanec Nikolovska-postgraduate student (Skopje),
• Antonio Koceski, M.Sc. (Prilep)
• Emilija Trampevska – student (Bitola)
• Natalija Krstevska – student (Shtip)
• Pakize Beliu – special educator (Gostivar)
• Samije Ibishi – special educator (Gostivar)
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12. Youth hubs in Macedonia
• 4 youth hubs organized in Skopje (March 2022)
• Responsible persons:
• Vesna Filipovska – special educator
• Andrea Ivanovska – student at psychology
• Emilija Trampevska – student at special education and rehabilitation
• 4 youth hubs organized in Prilep (March-April 2022)
• Responsible persons:
• Antonio Koceski, M.Sc. – special educator
• Aleksandra Dimeska – special educator
• 15 youths with ASD were included in social hubs.
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13. AFS Awards in Macedonia
• 20 institutions awarded:
• Elementary schools from Skopje, Prilep, Shtip, Demir Hisar, Novo Selo,
Stojakovo, Bogdanci, Vratnica;
• Etno restaurant “In Viktor”;
• Private health organization “Dr. Kristijan”;
• Youth Cultural Center – Skopje;
• Elentary school “Miloje Popovic” – Belgrade, Serbia
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14. Contributions of AFS for Macedonia
• First project of this kind in Macedonia;
• Each site that achieves the Autism Friendly Award will be
helping to make Macedonia a more autism-friendly place;
• Increased awareness for autism friendly spaces;
• Better visibility of persons with ASD;
• Social aspect of project is decreasing loneliness in youth who
have ASD;
• Greater acceptance of persons with ASD;
• More sensible society;
• More happier faces!   
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Pittsburgh Airport's 'Sensory Room' supports travelers who have Autism

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Designed for autism friendly experience

17. Acknowledgments
• European Commission for financing the project;
• Prisms Malta asking MSSA to be a partner;
• All schools and organizations taken part in the project;
• Youths with ASD have been involved in the hubs;
• Youth workers in the hubs;
• Faculty of Philosophy, UKIM, Skopje giving the space for the hubs;
• Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for this event;
• Plamenka Trajkovska, professional violinist musician from the
Macedonian Philharmonics,
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Thank you for your attention!
+389-2-3116-520 (234)
+389-2-3118-143
president@mssa.org.mk
http://www.mssa.org.mk
Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism
@AutismMacedonia
Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism
@mssaautism