Every year, about two thousand children are born here with autism spectrum disorder. Autism isn’t an illness, and it can’t be cured. It’s a lifelong, innate difference that’s part of who a person is. You don’t ‘catch’ autism during life – you’re born with it, and you live with it until the very end…
“Even if my eyes don’t see what yours do, my ears don’t hear the same sounds, and my body doesn’t feel the same impulses – I’m still just like you. I long for LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, and the feeling of SAFETY, just like you do.”
WHO we are
Six families with seven children who have severe autism.
In reality, this means our kids need 24/7 assistance. They can’t live independently. Often, they struggle with aggressive behavior toward others or even self-harm. As they grow older, we’re running out of strength to care for them. Even though the law says they’re entitled to proper social services – like year-round residential care – there’s simply not enough of it in our region. That’s why we decided to build this service ourselves.
Our goal is to register this year-round residential service as a Home for People with Disabilities or a Special Regime Home with the Ministry of Social Affairs – and then run it ourselves. Because our families come from the Otrokovice-Oldřichovice-Napajedla-Pohořelice-Zlámanec-Topolná area, we want the new Home to be right here, close to where we live. So our kids can stay in the place where they were born, grew up, and have their loved ones – without being torn away from their natural environment.
Introducing
OUR children
Jolanka
Understanding your words feels hopeless to me. I don’t get them. Nobody understands me. In water, I feel safe – there are no words there. Water carries me to peace…
Mikuláš
I feel completely lost in this world. I can’t manage without your help. I don’t speak, I can’t ask for what I need. Nobody understands me. I feel powerless. I cry a lot…
Ríša
I don’t understand your world. So I’ve closed myself off in mine…
Štěpán
To feel safe, I’ve surrounded myself with strict, all-day rituals and routines. They keep me alive. Not being able to connect with you drives me to despair…
Vojta
I don’t understand your language, your words. To me, they’re just clusters of strange sounds – sometimes pleasant, sometimes not. I can’t tell you what I feel, what I wish for, what hurts me. I’m alone in this…
Vašek
I like it when things stay the same, when I know what’s coming and who will be there. When I feel unsafe, I bang my head against the wall. I have a helmet they put on me so my head doesn’t break apart. I don’t even feel the pain…
Julinka
I don’t understand your words, and I can’t say mine. I’m always moving because I don’t know peace. Sometimes my hands hurt you – not because I want to, but because I don’t know how else to say: it’s too much for me. Thank you for holding my hand anyway.
What’s our goal?
A new home for seven children with severe autism
It’s not just about creating housing for our kids – it’s about a LOVING and SAFE HOME where they can live their lives and spend their time meaningfully.
- People with severe autism can’t share a room with another client.
- In the new Home, there would be four mini-households – something like small apartments with two rooms and a shared space with a kitchenette, dining table, sofa, toilet, and bathroom.
- Staff facilities (a small room with a computer, printer, desk, three chairs, shelves for files, and a lockable cabinet for medication).
- Utility room with a washer, dryer, drying rack, and cleaning supplies.
- Safe outdoor area (a fenced garden).
- Estimated construction cost (excluding land and equipment): 20 million CZK.
- Our goal is for the children to stay in the place where they were born and grew up – without being torn away from their environment.
- In the new Home, the children will live their lives close to their families.
