On the occasion of April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day, the Faculty of Pedagogy of the University of Tetova organized an activity titled “Seeing the World Differently: Autism and Virtual Reality”.
Vice-Dean for Science of the Faculty of Pedagogy, Teuta Ramadani – Rasimi, emphasized the importance of observing this day to raise awareness of autism among students, professors, and the wider public. She highlighted that over the years, various awareness initiatives have been carried out, ranging from lectures and public debates to the presentation of best practices in the fields of education and rehabilitation.
Dean of the Faculty of Education, Lulzim Mehmedi, stated that observing this day aims to raise awareness and foster a more inclusive approach in education.“The purpose of this activity is to open a new perspective toward understanding and accepting individuals on the autism spectrum. Autism should not be viewed as a disability, but as a different way of experiencing the world, while the role of educators is to create an inclusive environment for every child through knowledge and empathy. The use of virtual reality technology can help students better understand the experiences and feelings of individuals with autism, building new bridges of communication and understanding in the educational process”, said Prof. Dr. Lulzim Mehmedi.
The activity was conducted in two parts and was moderated by Jasmina Troshanska from the study program Special Education and Rehabilitation. In the first part, the role and significance of VR technology in working with individuals with autism were presented, while in the second part, students had the opportunity to practically experience the virtual world from the perspective of an educator. The examples presented today are the result of two projects funded by the European Union and supported by the University of Tetova: ABA-VR: Behavior Management Training through Virtual Reality, which prepares higher education students to support individuals with autism, and Houses4Autism: Supportive Homes as a Learning Environment, which focuses on supportive living arrangements for individuals with autism to build independent lives.
Observing April 2 is an opportunity to raise awareness about autism and to promote the use of innovative technologies in education, with the goal of building a more inclusive society that is sensitive to the needs of all.
