Campaign details

The Autism Today Association (ATA), is the first organization in Bulgaria to certify and qualify specialists in world-wide established therapeutic practices for children with autism. Since 2015, the Association has opened financially self-sustaining centers in the city of Sofia and the city of Pleven (in 2018).

Autism Today Association is now launching a new donation campaign for the construction of an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Center for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the town of Vratsa!

In January 2021, the Municipality of Vratsa provided a building to the Association, which is in extremely poor condition and needs repair, which will require about 30,000 EUR.

Vratsa may become the fourth city, after Sofia, Pleven, and Burgas, where such a specialized center is established.

The goal of the Autism Today Association is for the center to start become fully operational in 2021 so that the children in Vratsa could begin the necessary therapy.

With your support, the Association will improve the quality of life for children with autism in Bulgaria and their families!

Thanks to the current campaign at Bithope.org, donations can also be made in cryptocurrency.

About the Autism Today Association

Autism Today is an association established by professionals in applied behavioral analysis, public figures, and parents of children with autism, helping the cause for a dignified life of autistic individuals in Bulgaria and their families. The members of the Management Board of the Association are Mrs. Vladislava Tsolova, as well as popular Bulgarian personalities, friends of the cause in all her activities and initiatives. Thanks to their work, the first Center for Applied Behavioral Analysis in Sofia has been operating since October 2015. And from October 2018, the first Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Center for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Northern Bulgaria in Pleven. The buildings in which are the centers located are provided by the Metropolitan Municipality and the Municipality of Pleven. In addition to the exclusive support of the Municipality, the centers were built with the help of many donors.

On October 11, 2019, Autism Today Association officially opened the long-awaited Center for Applied Behavioral Analysis for children with Autism in Student City, Student Clinic.

Mission

The mission of the Autism Today Association is to create specialized centers for the provision of social services for children with autism, where therapy is performed by specialists using scientifically proven methods.

All ATA expert teams must adhere to global and European professional and ethical practice standards. All therapists must be certified by the American Board for Applied Behavior Analysis Therapists. 

The therapeutic programs are prepared with the help of supervisor Deena Singer. Deena is a Licensed Master of Social Work and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience helping children and their families live happier, more productive lives.

Achievements 

In September 2015, the Autism Today Association established the first ABA Center for Applied Behavioral Analysis for Children with Autism and Complex Therapy in Bulgaria in a building provided by Sofia Municipality, which was repaired only with the help of donors. The specialists' training was also funded with donations. Currently, the ABA Center - Sofia Gorublyane is a brand of high-quality therapy for children with autism in Bulgaria, a place where parents and children get a CHANCE and HOPE!

In October 2018, the Autism Today Association opened a Center for Children with Autism and Complex Therapy in Pleven in a building provided by the Municipality of Pleven and again with the help of donors created conditions and opportunities for children with an autism spectrum disorder in Northern Bulgaria. On October 19, 2019, the center celebrated its first anniversary, which was attended by the Chairman of the SACP Dr. Eleonora Lilova, Deputy Executive Director of the ASA - Maya Vasileva, and public figures supporting the cause of the Autism Today Association.

In the same month - October 2019, the Autism Today Association, guided by the demand and needs of children and their families, opened a second ABA Center for Applied Behavioral Analysis in Sofia - Student City!

On February 9, 2021, the long-awaited renovation of the building provided to the Association by the Municipality of Burgas was initiated with the goal to establish an ABA Center for Behavioral and Complex Therapy "Autism Today" in Burgas!

That became possible thanks to the BitHope Foundation. BitHope's campaign was focused on the construction of the Center for Children with Autism in Burgas and was launched at the end of 2019, when the Municipality of Burgas provided a building to the Autism Today Association. On February 9, 2021 the BitHope Foundation donated a total of 21,892 BGN raised fully through bitcoin!

Pr. Mr. Soren Jacobsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Republic of Bulgaria, together with the Ambassadors of Finland, Sweden, and Norway to Bulgaria also made a donation - 3,348 BGN - to the Autism Today Association for the construction of the ABA Center in Burgas.

The Association still has to raise 41,650 BGN, but it is expected that the municipality of Burgas will contribute that amount and the ABA Center and it will be complete for the Autism Awareness Month in April 2021, making the children and parents who have been expecting its completion for more than two years happy!

Types of Therapies in the Applied Behavioral Analysis Centers

All individual sessions are focused on assisting children in learning basic, socially relevant, and functional skills.

The sessions include:

• ABA Behavioral Therapy - covers all areas of childhood development (building and improving socially relevant behaviors and skills, as well as reducing those that impede learning and functioning in society)
• Ergotherapy and sensory integration - develop and maintain daily self-care and work skills, work towards processing and organizing sensory information (appropriate for hypersensitivity/hypoactivity problems with body coordination and motor skills)
• Logopedic work - suitable for children with articulation difficulties
• Psychological work - suitable for emotional and social difficulties
• Working with a social educator towards academic achievement (reading, writing, math, etc.)

Information About Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavioral Analysis is a science that looks at the learning and functioning of a behavior. ABA is based on the basic laws that it applies to behavior so that it facilitates all aspects of learning. In addition, ABA identifies and reduces unwanted behaviors that impede the child's progress.

АBA includes many techniques. These techniques are applied to behavior in the context of the environment and the situation in which it occurs. This allows us to identify the purpose of a behavior and to develop strategies to learn new, socially acceptable, and effective ways of communicating, self-care, play, and coping in a learning and social environment.