Moldova and Autism

Historical Background

Autism in Moldova has a very short history. The story of autism spectrum disorders in Moldova started in 2004, when the first child was diagnosed as childhood autism. However, this is synonymous to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) not existing in Moldova. For many years, especially during the soviet period, children with autism were diagnosed as mentally retarded or some other diagnosis. Most of them had missed the optimal treatment window (early intervention) because of inadequate institutions, insufficient finances, and parental ignorance. Many of the children with autism have been placed into institutions. Because of the poor economic situations and inadequateness of services of social assistance, families were no longer able to care for the medical, physical, and psychological needs of their children and found institutions to be the only viable alternative. This attitudes and approach had lasted for decades in Moldova.

The lack of knowledge on ASD in...