Autism screening for children raised under state protection in child homes and child homes buildings complexes in Ankara, by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, will be expanded throughout Türkiye.

Screenings have been started in Ankara as selected province within the scope of the "Notice Me" project developed in cooperation with the Ministry and Gülhane Training and Research Hospital of Ankara Health Sciences University.

Within the scope of the project, which has been implemented with the aim of recognizing children with autism at an early stage and directing them to appropriate education, treatment and rehabilitation, autism screening has been carried out firstly for children raised under state protection in child homes and child homes buildings complexes in Ankara.

The project will be expanded throughout Türkiye and will cover all children staying in Child Homes and Child Homes Buildings Complexes.

With the project, emphasis will be given to trainings to raise awareness of professional and care personnel in order to carry out the necessary studies to improve the adaptive skills of children who are determined to have autism.

Training for health and care personnel

With the project, 164 health and care personnel working in Ankara Child Homes have been trained on Autism Spectrum Disorders and developmental disorders.

After the personnel training was completed, within the scope of the project carried out by volunteer doctors working at Ankara Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, autism screening was carried out for children aged 18 months up to 7 years old, who are under state protection in Ankara.

The follow-up of children who have been diagnosed with autism or found to be at risk for autism as a result of the screenings has been carried out by the physicians in charge of the project.

Within the scope of the project, 81 children between the ages of 0-7 who are under state protection in Ankara have been screened. Twenty-six of these children have been found to be at risk for autism, one child has been diagnosed with autism as a result of detailed examination, and one child has been found to be at risk for autism and has been followed up.