Empathy is the way to understand autism!

An event titled “A Different Language in the Same World: Understanding Autism” was organized by Üsküdar University Health Services Vocational School (SHMYO) and Accessible Life Support Application and Research Center (ENMER). During the event, it was emphasized that autism is not merely a diagnosis but a different way of perceiving and communicating; the importance of building empathy and an inclusive society, going beyond mere awareness, was discussed. The strengths of individuals with autism, their place in social life, and the necessity of developing support mechanisms were also comprehensively evaluated. In the event, where art and scientific talks came together, performances showcasing the potential of individuals with autism also attracted great interest from the participants.

Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor Prof. İsmail Barış, SHMYO Director Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal, President of Autism Support Education and Solidarity Association (ODED-DER) Tolga Gökçe, ENMER Director Asst. Prof. Melek Çaylak, along with academicians, experts, and civil society representatives, attended the event held in the Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.

Prof. İsmail Barış: “There are paths and obstacles to overcome in autism”

Speaking at the opening of the event, Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor Prof. İsmail Barış drew attention to a significant action plan in recent years. Barış stated; “Explaining them and autism to the public, to people, is an extraordinarily difficult task. That's why they need to be applauded. In recent years, there has been a serious breakthrough, an action plan. We have a small problem with implementing the action plan. We observe that families are not supported to the extent they may need, both financially and morally. When we look at it from the perspective of understanding these people, there are paths to walk and obstacles to overcome. I believe that if we can turn this speed into activity, if we can truly implement the principles written in the plan, then families will be at ease, children will be happy, and we, as individuals who have fulfilled our duty, will be happy both publicly and privately.”

Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal: “Awareness is not just about having knowledge, but about empathizing”

Üsküdar University SHMYO Director Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal, stating that more inclusive approaches must be developed in every field, from education to health, from social life to employment; “As the Health Services Vocational School, with our 38 programs, we carry out very serious activities, especially towards social contribution. This is one of them. I want to emphasize that autism is not a deficiency, but a different form of development, and that every individual's way of perceiving the world, communicating, and expressing themselves is unique. Of course, individuals with autism are also the most important and valuable part of this diversity. It is our duty to increase this awareness and to accept and support them. Awareness is not just about having knowledge, but also about empathizing, questioning prejudices, and taking responsibility for building an inclusive society. We must develop more inclusive approaches in every field, from education to health, from social life to employment. Therefore, as our university, we are trying to do our part with an effort based on our human-centered approach.”

Asst. Prof. Melek Çaylak: “We wanted to be able to show all kinds of differences” 

Üsküdar University ENMER Director, Social Services Program Head Asst. Prof. Melek Çaylak, emphasizing that differences should be evaluated not as a factor of separation but as richness and diversity; “The program we wanted to realize here today is not fundamentally a program we made to teach something, to show something, or to define something for us. With this program, we wanted to show all kinds of differences that can coexist with us, that a system can exist that can make these differences appear as a different language within the same world, or how this difference can emerge as a positive characteristic.”

Tolga Gökçe: “Awareness is a step, while understanding and feeling are a long journey” 

President of Autism Support Education and Solidarity Association (ODED-DER) Tolga Gökçe, underlining the need to take steps by turning awareness into action; “Awareness is a step, while understanding and feeling are a long journey. If you can feel and understand these individuals even if you don't have autism, it is a great path for us, and for these children and young people. Why should we care about autism? Why should we pursue autism and develop serious policies regarding it? In the world and in our country, autism is currently seen much more frequently than diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. The reasons for this are being scientifically investigated, and the world allocates very large budgets to autism. My daughter is 20 years old. Ceren, who makes the anime pictures you saw when entering the conference hall, is also here with us. She is a university student this year. She is a child, a young person, who has proven what these individuals, these young people, can achieve when supported. But we have thousands, millions of children who do not have this chance. To understand them, we need to carry out these efforts not just for a day or a month, but spread throughout the years, to turn awareness into action, to take steps.” 

The power of art in autism…

Following the opening speeches, Autistic Pianist Koral Erdeniz provided enjoyable moments to the participants with his piano recital. 
Autistic Artist Ceren Gökçe's works were exhibited in the foyer area, attracting great interest from guests. 

Communication with individuals with autism was discussed

Subsequently, as part of the event, Clinical Psychologist Can Kamsız and Clinical Psychologist Zeynep Alcan held a discussion. In the discussion, autism was addressed as a form of existence and a different language, rather than merely a medical diagnosis. Furthermore, the importance of clarity, predictability, and respecting processing time in communication with individuals with autism was highlighted.

Clinical Psychologist Can Kamsız: “The goal is not to change the individual, but to increase harmony with the environment”

Clinical Psychologist Can Kamsız, stating that autism should be defined not only by its challenges but also by its strengths; “Today we had two valuable guests here, and they shared their unique talents with us. The neurodiversity perspective comes into play precisely here. Autism is always defined through its challenges, but I find it very valuable to define autism through its strengths as well. Especially when you research the literature, you will see a concept called monotropism. Monotropism means the capacity for deep focus. It means enabling a high level of expertise and specialization by concentrating on specific areas. In addition, pattern recognition skills and a tendency for systematic thinking provide significant advantages, especially in analytical and structured fields. These characteristics, of course, are not only individual differences but also an important element of scientific, technological, and creative production. Therefore, in the current approach, autism is regarded by us within a multi-dimensional framework of difference rather than a one-dimensional deficit model. In this framework, the main goal is not to change the individual, but to increase harmony between the individual and the environment.”  

Clinical Psychologist Zeynep Alcan: “The moment we empathize, we step outside what we call the normal category”

Clinical Psychologist Zeynep Alcan, who conducted an empathy exercise with the participants; “I asked this of you because being able to feel, think, or hear all of these simultaneously is very common background noise for the majority. It's very generally accepted for us. However, imagine that these sounds we think, feel, and hear simultaneously attack your brain with intense force. What happens then? That is precisely what our valuable guests, whom we call 'individuals with special needs' and who are the reason for our gathering here today, experience with us. In individuals with autism, we feel that same simultaneous attack with the same intensity that I just mentioned. And they experience this incessantly throughout the day. That's why, the moment we establish that empathy, we step outside the category we call normal.”

After the discussion, certificates of participation were presented to the guests, and the program concluded with a group photo session.