30 years of early funding: A festival for inclusion in the Oberlinhaus!

30 years of early funding: A festival for inclusion in the Oberlinhaus!

A remarkable occasion was recently celebrated in Potsdam: the early promotion of living environments in the Oberlinhaus looks back on 30 successful years. As one of the first offers of this kind in the region, the Oberlinhaus with its three locations in Potsdam-Babelsberg, Potsdam-Nord and Werder has made a name for itself. Over 70 specialists are available here who accompany and support more than 650 families every year. Juliane Höpfner, the managing director of the living environments, emphasized how important early funding is to enable participation from the start. A growing need makes these offers essential - and not only for the children, but for their families.

The ceremony was a colorful mix of greeting and specialist contributions that focused on the development of early funding and the importance of an inclusive practice. Armin Sohns, Professor of Early Funding, spoke about the positive development in early funding. Video messages, among others by Gitta Hüttmann, head of the national workplace of early intervention in the state of Brandenburg, enriched the event. Partners such as the AWO and the EJF were also on site to celebrate the successful cooperation. Particularly moving was the contribution of a family affected, which impressively described their experiences with early funding.

a versatile funding offer

The Oberlinhaus not only offers a general support approach, but also specialized autism -specific funding opportunities. The clash of interests and needs is made possible by innovative procedures such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). This procedure supports children with early childhood autism or severe autism spectrum disorders in learning the basics of communication. With image cards and individual amplifiers, such as praise or play, helps the children to clearly express their wishes and needs. This not only promotes language skills, but also trust in one's own communication skills.

How important it is that children with autism spectrum disorders are well supported in everyday school life is not least evident in the projects and initiatives that are implemented in the various federal states. On the educational server you can find comprehensive information on funding opportunities, projects for inclusive lessons and further help for teachers. A particularly relevant project is "Diagnosis of barriers for autistic students in inclusive schools", which aims to identify and reduce obstacles in everyday school life. The need for special integration offers is repeatedly emphasized to promote children's social integration and independence.

All in all, the 30th birthday of early support in the Oberlinhaus not only shows the successes of recent years, but also the commitment to an inclusive future. The motto is: Everyone has the right to participate - from the beginning.