“II Autism Awareness Forum” held in Baku

- PHOTOS
09:55 20.04.2026 Views: 234
The “II Autism Awareness Forum” was held in Baku - PHOTOS
The “II Autism Awareness Forum” was held at the Nizami Cinema Center, organized by the IDDO Mental Health Program.

The forum, dedicated to the topic “A Holistic Approach to Autism,” stood out for its educational content and high social significance. The main objectives of the forum were to educate parents, encourage specialists to engage in more responsible activities, and emphasize the importance of integrating children with autism into society.
Within the framework of the event, existing problems in the field of autism, solutions, and directions for structuring this field were discussed.

The forum was attended by deputies of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Mammadov, Elchin Mirzabayli, Mushfig Mammadov, Malahat Ibrahimqizi, Aydin Huseynov, Elman Nasirov, Konul Nurullayeva, Nigar Mammadova, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, TABIB (Management Union of Medical Territorial Units), the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population.

At the same time, Zühre Akgün, the wife of the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Azerbaijan, also participated in the event.

Within the framework of the forum, a significant exchange of ideas took place regarding the development of cooperation in the field of autism between Azerbaijan and Turkey. It was noted that expanding the exchange of knowledge and experience in this area between the two brotherly countries, joint activities of specialists, and the application of international standards will create conditions for achieving more systematic and effective results in the future.
Speakers emphasized that autism spectrum disorders are widespread and require special attention in the modern era, stating that such forums play a crucial role in guiding parents correctly and increasing public awareness.

In her speech, Jala Ahmadova, head of the IDDO Mental Health Program, provided information on the work carried out to regulate the activities of psychology centers and psychological services. She stated that a standardization committee has been established for this purpose, and the development of an ethical code, as well as diagnostic and rehabilitation standards, is planned for 2026 with the participation of a multidisciplinary team. It was noted that the implementation of these standards will serve to improve the quality of early diagnosis and prevent unprofessional activities.

Malahat Ibrahimqizi, Deputy Chair of the Milli Majlis Health Committee and Member of Parliament, emphasized the importance of strengthening state policy in the field of autism in her speech. She noted that the development of early diagnosis and systematic rehabilitation services is among the priority areas, and work is ongoing to improve the legislative framework in this field.

Rovshan Nazarli, Chief Psychologist of the IDDO Mental Health Program, emphasized in his speech the importance of starting early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder from the 6-9 month period. He stated that late diagnoses are a widespread problem, and a diagnosis made at 3 years old can already be considered late. At the same time, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the rehabilitation process was emphasized.

Specialists invited from Turkey also delivered speeches within the framework of the forum. Dr. Anıl Gürkan gave a presentation on “Brain Mapping with QEEG: How do we look at the brain in autism?”, providing information on the method's capabilities and limitations.

Dr. Murat Balanlı and dietitian Ramila Imanova spoke about common digestive system problems in autism, the link between microbiota and behavior, and the impact of systemic inflammation.

Psychologist Yeliz Ceylan provided information on behavior and emotion regulation in autism, sensory sensitivity, the differences between “meltdown” and “tantrum,” as well as typical mistakes made by families and support methods that can be applied at home.

During the forum, participants' questions were answered, and educational discussions were held for parents.

It was noted that such initiatives make a significant contribution to the formation of an inclusive society, the social integration of children with special needs, and the expansion of their development opportunities.