"Parents (...) tell me that Neurofeedback helps their child in everyday life" - An interview with the Child and Autism Foundation in Urdorf, Switzerland

We talked to Ms Alberta Hildebrand, head of the step-by course programme of the Child and Autism Foundation. In the interview she told us more about the goals of the foundation and about their experiences with Neurofeedback in ASD.

Dear Ms Hildbrand, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. What exactly does the Child and Autism Foundation do?

The Child and Autism Foundation is a competence centre for children and adolescents with autism in Urdorf in the canton of Zurich. It was founded on the initiative of affected parents who set up a day special school for children with autism in 1975. Since then, the organisation has continued to develop and has established itself as a nationwide centre of excellence with a wide range of services for families where autism spectrum is an issue. In addition to a school home with a day special school, a boarding and driving service, a counselling centre and the early intervention area, we also run an aids shop and the step-by course programme.

We maintain a lively exchange with professionally related schools, counselling and specialist centres in Switzerland and abroad. In addition, we raise public awareness about autism. 

The Child and Autism Foundation employs around 100 people. It is a non-profit organisation and our work is financed by contributions from the federal government, cantons and municipalities, through counselling and courses for affected persons, families and institutions, as well as through donations.

You have already mentioned the step-by course programme, of which you are also the director. Who is the training programme aimed at and what is the goal of the programme?

The step-by course programme was founded by our foundation in 2004 and offers a wide range of further education, training and lectures on the autism spectrum. It is aimed at professionals from the fields of education, agogy, therapy, medicine and - depending on the course - also at parents and accompanying persons who live or work with people on the autism spectrum. The offer is very well received and we simply notice that the need for further training on the topic continues to grow. We therefore also offer individual training and courses for schools, institutions and other foundations, which are specifically tailored to their needs and topics. With this offer, we also want to pass on some of our many years of experience.

What is your experience with Neurofeedback?
 

Autism manifests itself differently depending on its severity and expression and can include various symptoms. These include withdrawal into a world of one's own thoughts, avoidance of contact with the environment, disturbances in speech and motor skills, low empathy for the emotions and needs of others, stereotypical movements and behaviours, and avoidance of physical contact. Neurofeedback can have an amazing effect in treating these accompanying symptoms of autism.
Autism cannot be cured causally, but can be treated therapeutically to the degree of severity. The treatment must be adapted to the individual patient as flexibly as the effects vary. Neurofeedback can therefore be one of the building blocks of a behavioural therapy treatment plan.

Parents whom I advise and support tell me that Neurofeedback helps their child in everyday life. For example, anxiety or anger can settle down, the child becomes calmer, calmer or can feel himself or herself better. The child, the teenager, but also the parents, can develop more self-confidence and self-esteem. It helps them to relax mentally so that they can concentrate better and interact more positively with their environment. 

Once a year you organise the so-called Autism Forum. What are the contents and goals and what is planned for this year?
 

Our Autism Forum provides a popular platform on the topic of autism. We facilitate networking and exchange for professionals, institutions, decision-makers, people working in the autism field and interested parties. The programme covers a wide range of current topics from early childhood to adulthood. We welcome nationally and internationally renowned experts as speakers. This year's forum will take place on 11 November 2022. The programme and invitation will soon be published on our website www.kind-autismus.ch.

Neuroscientist Dr. Ned Sahin was a keynote speaker at the 16th Autism Forum and said "I think I see the amazing hope that the right technology, the right neuroscience and the right humanistic approach can have for this set of potentially 70 million people". Do you think Neurofeedback can make a contribution here?
 

We think so. Of course, there is still a long way to go. Of course, we are still a long way from providing comprehensive services for families, but on the one hand, public interest in the autism spectrum is increasing and families are finding places to turn to. We are also working on building more competences and networks through our courses. On the other hand, there are more and more scientific findings and also new technological approaches that support children and young people and also positively support their environment.
All these developments are intertwined. We also see potential in Neurofeedback and I hope that Neurofeedback, as a component of various methods and approaches, can support many people affected in their everyday lives. 

Thank you for this interview!