HOME OF SOCIAL CARE of 

Prof. KAROL MATULAY

Friday November 12, 1999 four days after my departure from Slovakia there was a day of open doors at this institution celebrating its 15th anniversary of existence. This institution takes daily care of 90 clients' aged 3 to 36. The clients are separated into 12 educational groups. They first arrive for diagnostics and are split into three groups. After initial evaluation they are put into 9 groups. There is also integrated Pre School consisting of 8 healthy children and 3 mentally challenged children. The clients work in different educational workshops such as: ceramics, textile, and woodworking. Each educational group is consisting of 6 to 8 clients' one person from health department one helper and one teacher. The clients operate communal kitchen by themselves and have their own currency for purchases. 

This institution also takes care of 10 Autism challenged children in two groups. This is first daily care institution of this kind in Slovakia. This institution is using TEACCH/Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communications handicapped Children and Adults program. It is educational-training program for clients with Autism, and people with communicating problems. It was developed at the University of Northern Carolina by a team lead by Prof. E. Schopler and today is widely used not only in USA but throughout the world. The program has seven basic principles:

Improvement of child's adaptation
Cooperation with parents
Individual approach toward the child
Structural teaching
Widening of skills
Cognitive and behavioral therapy
Versatile educational model

It helps the child to see through the environment, leads him to independence and conscience activities that are further developing him. It lowers occurrence and intensity of challenging behavior. It reacts to changing symptoms and needs of client with autism. Program is very demanding for personnel as optimal ratio is one employee to one child with autism.

The institute does have:

 Account of Happiness 1902647-019/0900

Ustav prof. Karola Matulaya
Lipskeho 13
841 01 Bratislava
Slovakia

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Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 7, No. 4, Winter 1999
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1999 
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The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express written permission of Vladimir Linder. All rights reserved.