On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day, Lviv hosted the fourth annual “I CAN!” conference for professionals working with autism spectrum disorders and for parents raising children with ASD.
This year, the conference brought together a record number of participants: nearly 250 attendees, over 20 speakers, and more than 10 partners. Experts in inclusive education, speech therapy, and behavioral therapy exchanged experiences and discussed the most effective methods and tools for supporting children with ASD.
“Many speakers are involved, and highly informative presentations were prepared by specialists. Everything is dynamic and well-paced — I’m impressed,” shared Kateryna Ivanusa, a speech therapist and education specialist who attended the conference.
The event was traditionally co-organized by LEVCHYK SPECTRUM HUB — our center for correction and adaptation for children with ASD — and the Lviv-based Start Center.
Over three years of operation, LEVCHYK specialists held more than 17,000 therapy sessions and supported over 120 families raising a child on the spectrum. The continuous operation of the hub is ensured by the regular support of patron Vadym Stolar, donors, and grant providers, enabling the team to consistently deliver psychosocial and corrective support to internally displaced children and children from frontline regions.
The organizers emphasize that the main goal of the conference is to provide specialists working with ASD not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical tools they can already apply in their work.
“Interest in the event is growing every year. There are not many specialized events in this field in Ukraine, and it is extremely important for the professional community to meet and communicate,” explains Anna Perekatii, co-organizer of the conference, behavioral analyst, and founder of the Start Centers. As a mother of a teenager with autism, she deeply understands the needs of parents and the importance of a community where they can connect with different specialists.
“It is this kind of cooperation, like the one we have with Future for Ukraine, that allows us to combine efforts and resources and make ‘I CAN!’ a larger and more impactful event from year to year,” says Anna Perekatii.
According to Anna, a new addition to this year’s program was the section “Community-based initiatives. Supported living. Employment” — a topic that is especially important for parents of children with ASD.
“Today, supported living and employment initiatives are emerging where people self-organize, connect, and collaborate. When parents and caring people join their efforts. For now, these are still point solutions driven by personal initiative, but by sharing this experience, we help them scale. More people learn about it, get involved, and feel inspired,” Anna Perekatii adds.
In addition, traditional sections on ABA therapy, inclusion, sensory-motor development, and speech therapy were held.
Speech therapist Mariia Lytvynenko, a specialist in myofunctional correction and speech activation using the PROMPT approach, participated as a speaker at “I CAN!” for the first time this year.
“Such events are essential for professionals to understand where to grow, what new technologies and research have emerged, and to communicate with specialists from other fields. They also need to hear from parents and understand their experiences. Events like this help us better understand how to support,” Mariia explains.
The event took place in a professional yet warm atmosphere. Photographer Marta Grinshtein shared her personal experience of raising a child with autism. Her son Ivan has been attending LEVCHYK SPECTRUM HUB for nearly a year as part of the “test drive” project, and Marta openly shared insights about it.
Olha Hliuza, Head of Children’s Programs at Future for Ukraine, emphasized that participation in the conference is important for community development and scaling initiatives: “LEVCHYK SPECTRUM HUB has been co-organizing ‘I CAN!’ for the fourth year, bringing together a strong and supportive community. For us, this is an important experience, and we truly value the opportunity of partnerships here.”
LEVCHYK SPECTRUM HUB is a project of the Future for Ukraine foundation. It is a development and correction center for internally displaced children and children from frontline areas with autism spectrum disorders. It is a safe space where children receive free corrective therapy (ABA therapy, sensory integration, sessions with a psychologist, speech therapy, art therapy, and music therapy) and adapt to new life circumstances.
LEVCHYK SPECTRUM HUB has been operating in Lviv for three years, demonstrating its effectiveness and scaling its model. In 2025, it also opened in Mykolaiv in partnership with Mykolaiv City Council, with grant and philanthropic support. Today, two hubs operate in Lviv and Mykolaiv. The model of support has proven effective in practice, and LEVCHYK SPECTRUM HUB has received official status as a social service provider.
