The round table conference devoted to social adaptation of children and young people suffering from phenylketonuria (PKU) took place in the Centre of psychosocial rehabilitation of Feldman Ecopark. Parents whose children combat this rare genetic disease were invited to participate in the conference. The event was held by the heads of the Centre. During the meeting participants discussed consequences of orphan (rare) diseases in system of social adaptation of children and young people. The topics discussed included the school failure, frequent conflicts, headaches, fears and others.
“Today we paid special attention to nutrition because it enables children suffering from PKU to maintain positive health. But because of a number of restrictions there are difficulties. It’s difficult to explain to the child why he can’t eat what his peers eat. Our project is devoted to the preservation of mental and physical health of children and young people suffering from PKU and their further adaptation in society” — the head of psychological service of the Centre Tetiana Aliieva told.
In case of PCU disease the phenylalanine (FA) amino acid which penetrates the human body with protein doesn’t split up. In this regard, children and young people suffering from PCU should keep to a diet. It causes complication in social adaptation and peer teamwork creation that is essential to the child at the time of personality formation. The specialists of the Centre acquainted parents with the Traffic light technique according to which all products should be divided into “red” (forbidden), “yellow” (allowed in a certain quantity) and “green” (allowed). In addition, the parents were told about techniques of self-control and differentiation of emotions which are aimed at improving of a psychoemotional state of children and a psychological micro-climate of the family.
While the parents discussed the consequences of orphan diseases with the heads of the Centre of psychosocial rehabilitation, the children participated in a Fruit master class. Boys and girls created edible hand-made crafts of the allowed fruit under the supervision of our experts. The programme also included walk in the Feldman Ecopark (Landscape Therapy) and collective Equine Therapy.
