About us
“Παίζω και μιλώ” is an innovative center, active in the field of Special Education.It was founded at 2021 by speech therapist Athanasia Antonopoulou.The centre cooperates with the National Health Service Agency which helps parents to cover the costs of treatments.
The main services offered are speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychotherapy. Athanasia and her team of experts aim through their special therapy sessions at the early diagnosis and intervention of the difficulties that a kid presents, in order to integrate appropriatly and harmoniously into society.
All the programs are adapted to each child and his/her capabilities. As Athanasia herself says “In our center we celebrate all the kids for their uniqueness and we encourage them to be the best version of themselves!”.
Finally, as the name of the center itself indicates, the team of “Παίζω και μιλώ” helps kids battle their educational difficulties through therapy sessions but mostly through many games and fun activities!Afterall, kids learn best by playing!
Meet Athanasia Antonopoulou
Athanasia studied Logotherapy at the University of Patras and has two masters from the University of the Aegean, one specialized on the “Special Education” and one on “Autism and Education”.Also she have had an expertise training in “School Psychology” again at the University of the Aegean.Starting her own center of special education was her dream since she was a student at Patras.She always believed that each kid requires special treatment and an equal chance to education.
For that reason,when she finished all of her studies she opened “Παίζω και μιλώ” at Vironas.At first, she was operating it on herself and did all the therapy sessions alone, “It was a really challenging period because I had no time for my personal life and I was struggling to keep the center open due to the financial pressure” says Athanasia, “but my passion for what I am offering to these kids helped me to push through and now have a center with three employees that I can say I blindly trust and share my workload with”.
Despite having enough experienced staff, as the owner she is still always the first to get in touch with the families and the kids and is always involved in their therapies and their progress “I see the kids as members of my family and I want to be there for them and experience their growth first hand”she states. Through the love and the motivation of her and her employees the center is now a safe space for dozens of children and their families.
Our fact sheet
- Established in 2021 by Athanasia Antonopoulou.
- There are three(3) employees. Iliana Lazari(child psychologist),Irene Vlassi(occupational expert) and Efstratia Giannaki(logotherapist).
- Our services include: psychotherapy,occupational therapy,logotherapy,child counselling,parents counselling,creative engagement of children and children's study aid.
- Our foundation cooperates with the National Health Service Agency which finances the families.
- Its child has a personalised session program based on his/hers needs and capabilities.
- The program adapts to the childs progress and changes forms throughout the year of enrollment.
- More than 40 kids are already enrolled and trust us with their educational progress.
- Around 1 out of 10 people have dyslexia or another speech difficulty.
- A research that was made in cooperation with National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine showed that in Greece only 3.8% of diagnoses of ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorders) were made before the fourth year after birth and 42.7% before the sixth year.Emphasis should be given to earlier identification and diagnosis of ASD.
- Our center helps diagnosing kids even under the age of 3 years old.
