TITLE:
Mirror Psycho-Pedagogy in the Population with Severe Intellectual Disability and Severe Autism (SIDSA)
AUTHORS:
Giuliana Galli Carminati, Federico Carminati
KEYWORDS:
Severe Intellectual Disability, Severe Autism, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Sheltered Workshops, Occupational Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.12 No.1,
January
13,
2021
ABSTRACT: In this paper we discuss at first the clinical case of a person affected by severe mental disability and severe autism (SIDSA). From this specific case we extend our reasoning to the whole population affected and we express some simple rules that should be applied to care for this very difficult population in care homes and specialized institutions. We underline the need for this population to be protected from stress factors, which can be very damaging for their well-being and quality-of-life. Lastly, we describe an approach to activities in sheltered workshops and residential institutions that we call mirror psycho-pedagogy. This approach that we have validated on several occasions in our professional experience, has been defined in analogy to the mirror neuron theory, and has shown its validity in dealing with the stress of these people related to their performance facing the daily activities in which they are engaged.