CASTLE OF MIRACLES
Miracles do exist!
GARDEN OF MIRACLES IN THE CASTLE OF MIRACLES
TO MAKE INTERVENTIONAL THERAPY A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
„Garden of Miracles” for professional intervention without disturbing the genuine joy of play and spontaneous exploration
www.downegyesulet.hu/down-association
Down Association considers its primary mission to support children with disabilities, providing early intervention, education, and full support for their families, especially at an early age, which is the most suitable age for effective intervention. Early intervention integrates interventional therapies, family care, shaping social attitudes, and a close cooperation with health professionals and social workers.
All these goals were to meet by a unique institutional structure, the „Castle of Miracles” Early Intervention Centre in Nyíregyháza, one of the least privileged regions of the country. According to our survey, less than 5% of disabled children participated in early intervention in this region, and a high proportion of them received therapies in other parts of the country, mainly in the capital, Budapest. After three years’ hard work of more than 50 volunteers, the gates of the “Castle of Miracles” Early Intervention Centre finally opened in 2011. More than 20 million HUF of private and corporate donations made it possible to equip the 300 square meters Centre with a full set of therapeutic devices. The institute also hosts an integrated playhouse accepting children with special needs and with typical development as well. In 2013, as much as 63 children started complex early intervention in the “Castle of Miracles” and almost 350 non-disabled children visited the playhouse, engaging naturally with their disabled peers. 20 children with special needs have finished their early intervention therapies in the “Castle of Miracles” in the past two years, and all of them were accepted in mainstream kindergartens, which verifies our professional expertise, and also initiates significant social changes in the long run.
The Garden of Miracles is going to be an exciting, supplementary therapy tool for the Early Intervention Center, integrating the features of traditional playhouse mazes and the German Kükelhaus sensory gardens. The Garden of Miracles exploits children’s natural urge to explore and play, to stimulate the nervous system through all the five senses and bodily movements, and to support the development of gross motor skills, attention, perception and all of the learning abilities, while introducing children to new textures, smells, sights and sounds.
„Our sponsors repeatedly inquire about the proper tools to buy for the “healing” of children with special needs. Scientific technology at the present time does not allow for completely eradicating the difficulties most of these children face, but their functioning and quality of life can be significantly improved – especially at an early age – by applying the early childhood intervention protocol used in the Castle of Miracles” Károly Kisari - President, DOWN Association (Hungary) Partners who have already supported our “Garden of Miracles”: ABLON Foundation, Hungary & Rotary Club Nyíregyháza, Hungary
At the entrance of the Garden of Miracles the children are welcomed by special noise maker instruments, which support the development of acoustic perception and the improvement of attentional skills.
The climbing wall helps to develop gross motor skills and the harmonic movements of the limbs, as well as coordinating the functions of the two hemispheres of the brain.
Besides improving motor skills, tools that require keeping ballance support the development of the nervous system and the cooperation between the different domains of the brain.
Being close to nature, the sounds, lights, smells and tactile sensations of nature are of primary importance in the Garden of Miracles. The waterfall provides both visual and auditive stimuli, supporting sensory integration and more effective learning.
Visual stimuli are needed for the healthy development of perception, attention and eye movement.