Kraków opens home for adult people with autism spectrum disorder

The home for people with autism spectrum disorder is located at 25 Modrzewiowa Street in Wola Justowska, which is one of Kraków's most peaceful and green districts. The facility will host adult people suffering from ASD in need of intensive support. The building has been refurbished by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) in Kraków to serve exactly that purpose.

Kraków MOPS employees say this is one the first such initiatives in Poland. The social welfare home at Modrzewiowa Street will host around 20 adults with autism spectrum disorder. The first residents are to admitted in the fall.

"The place is located off the beaten track. There's plenty of greenery and it's peaceful, which is very important for people with this kind of disorders, as they are very sensitive to high-pitched noises and city bustle. That's why it was so important for us to create a place that would be friendly to them, also outside," said Agnieszka Pers, a spokesperson for Kraków MOPS.

She added that the support offer is addressed only to adult residents. "We're aware that the centre won't satisfy needs of all people requiring help. We think more places like this should be created in Poland," Pers argued.

She also stressed that the support centre would be mainly admitting Kraków residents. "We will be informing how the admittance process will look like," she said.

Doctor Krzysztof Gerc, expert at the Institute of Applied Psychology of the Jagiellonian University, has confirmed in an interview for tvn24.pl that the centre for people with autism spectrum disorder has been prepared very well. In his opinion, the building is adapted to ensure proper conditions for people in need of specialised care.

"Those are people who require rehabilitation, support therapy, psychostimulation, and peace. This is certainly one of the first and top facilities of this kind in Poland," the expert said.

Research shows, he added, that adults with autism require different conditions than people with other disabilities. That is why a separate social welfare home was needed, that would address their specific needs.

"We have an increasing number of cases in which parents, often elderly people, say they need some respite on the one hand, and help for their adult children on the other," Gerc said.

The psychologist listed three key features the home has, which are important for people with autism. Privacy (private single rooms for residents), access to complex rehabilitation, and the facility's organisation adaptem to people with different needs. He also stressed that one of the crucial aspects is encouraging residents to participate in everyday life.

"The idea is to make a person suffering from disorders try to perform everyday activities, and thereby get more involved in the community life closer to other people," Gerc explained.

Asked if people with autism spectrum can count on adequate support and care, Doctor Krzyztof Gerc said that "the offer is still insufficient".

"This is indeed changing as we speak, because, for instance, community self-help centres are becoming more and more popular. Some facilities offer occupational therapy workshops. But it's still not enough," the scientist said. He added that communities and institutions were not always able to provide proper care to people with autism spectrum disorder, also due to a shortage of such facilities.

A similar place already exists in Więckowice near Kraków, a so-called "Farm of Life", opened by Community of Hope Foundation (Fundacja Wspólnota Nadzei). The facility is a home to people with autism spectrum disorder, daily activity centre, as well as an ecofarm where residents learn how to work. The whole complex comprises two buildings with living quarters and therapy workshops, as well as a 7-hectare area with an orchard, kitchengarden, berrygarden, with green and recreational spaces.

"It's just wonderful that such place is being created in Kraków, that it will be a place offering permanent residence and everyday activities, because there are simply no such places in Poland. There are no places for permanent residence or places to live, as we call it, for people with autism. Especially in need of such places are dult persons whose parents have already aged," chairperson of Community of Hope Foundation Alina Perzanowska told krakow.pl television.