Establishing contact with people with autistic syndrome is not easy. Even for a pharmacist who must be able to relate comprehensively to these patients. In particular, to be able to ask them fundamental questions or provide equally important information.
This is why asking the patient with autism if he has a stomach ache, a headache or tooth pain takes on a different form thanks to communication through symbols. That is, through a new method of visual communication in the pharmacy, to establish contact with those with autistic syndrome, so as to make autistic children, teenagers and adults as autonomous as possible.
Thanks to the project, born in 2021, “Autism-friendly pharmacy” of the Continuing to Grow Onlus Association, which is now enriched with this new communication piece. Received immediately by Federfarma Verona (as happened with the start of the national pilot project) which, the first in Italy, will offer this practical reception service to those with autism spectrum disorders.
All you need to do is go to one of the pharmacies that have said yes to this important initiative and which can be recognized by the specific window sticker. Inside them, special calendars with communication tables for quick consultation will be available, clearly visible on the counter. Thanks to clear symbols, the user and pharmacist will be able to communicate more easily, in particular about the most common health needs. In practice, these tables also become useful for communicating with foreign patients who do not speak Italian, as well as with hard of hearing or deaf people.
«This is a pilot project which for the first time in Italy allows an active dialogue between pharmacies and autism – he explains Monica Meda president of Continuando a Crescere Onlus -. We start from Verona and, should it have a good response, we are ready to spread the initiative to other territories too. It is designed to increase the level of daily autonomy and improve the quality of life of people with relational difficulties, such as those linked to autism.”
«Three years ago we began the collaboration with “Continuando acresce” by distributing brochures in pharmacies that informed and raised awareness among the population about autism spectrum disorders – he recalls Elena Vecchioni, president of Federfarma Verona -. Eye contact, a relaxed and serene tone of voice, a simple smile, are essential for an empathetic approach. And now this further step forward which once again sees the social model of the pharmacy alongside special users”.
How was the table prepared and developed? He explains it Sarah Forttranslator into symbols: «Technically, it is a communication table and was created with the symbols of alternative augmentative communication, without the indications of words, to allow both the pharmacist and the user to best interpret the symbols proposed».
