About us
Association for Improving the Quality of Life of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders “Blue Firefly” was founded on 28.02.2017 in Skopje based on the 15 years of experience in the field of autism of the founders.
Improving the quality of life of people with autism and their families, raising awareness of the potential through education and direct support of children and adults with autism, their families, professionals and the general public.
Members of the organization can be professionals, parents, people with autism, and others who want to contribute to improving the quality of life of people with autism spectrum disorders and their families. If you are interested in joining us drop us an e-mail at contact@sinasvetulka.mk
the team of the Association
certified special educators and rehabilitators
Jasmina Troshanska is the President of the Association, a special educator and rehabilitator with 17 years of theoretical and practical experience in working with children with autism spectrum disorders. She is also a Montessori educator for children ages 3-6. During her work experience she has attended a number of training for evaluated treatments in the field of autism such as: ABA, PECS, TEACCH, Brain Gym and Sensory integration. She has also attended and participated with her own papers in a number of conferences in the country and abroad. She appears as author and co-author of 33 scientific papers published in R. Macedonia and abroad. She is often hired as a professional associate at the Bureau for Development of Education, a consultant for day care centers and kindergartens and a lecturer in special education and rehabilitation studies. Since 2010 she has been actively working on international projects, holding education for parents and professionals, participating in forums, television shows, writing in the media and fighting to raise awareness of autism in society.
Ana Petkovska Nikolovska is a special educator and rehabilitator with over 10 years of work experience in individual work with children with autism spectrum disorder. She thoroughly researches the stereotypical behaviors of children with autism, which is the topic of her master’s thesis. She has been the Manager of the Center for Education and Counseling since February 2013 and an expert associate of the NTC (Nikola Tesla Center) learning system for Macedonia and currently employed as a special educator and rehabilitator in a kindergarten.
Ana Shikaleska is a graduated special educator and rehabilitator and has been working with children with autism for 15 years. Ana has worked in the Institute for Education and Rehabilitation “Topansko Pole” in Skopje for children with moderate and severe intellectual disability and child psychosis, in JUDG “March 8” as a special educator and rehabilitator, as a special educator in the Special Primary School “D-r. Zlatan Sremec ”- Skopje in a combined department for students with autism and as a principal of the same school. She currently works as a special educator and rehabilitator for children with autism. She has attended and conducted training on ABA, TEACCH and sensory integration.
The main goal of Anna’s work is to improve the quality of daily life of people with autism and their families. She has been involved in projects as a coach for parents of children with autism (ESIPP), teachers from special and regular schools, preschools (ASD-EAST) who are in contact with children or people with autism. She is also a multiple contributor to the Bureau for Educational Development and has participated in the development of school curricula for children with autism.
Biljana Kujundzic-Nastevska is a graduated special educator and rehabilitator with 18 years of work experience in special primary schools. She is currently employed at the POU “Dr. Zlatan Sremec” – Skopje, as a special educator and rehabilitator in teaching. Actively participates in training and seminars that cover the treatment of children with autism. Until now she has been involved in Erasmus + projects, such as ESSIP and ASD-EAST, as a coach or trainer to support parents of children with ASD and special educators and rehabilitators in special and mainstream schools. She advocates for raising awareness of children and people with autism and their social inclusion.
Anita Stojcevska is a special educator and rehabilitator and was named the best student of the generation 2010-2014 at the Institute for Special Education and Rehabilitation in Skopje. At the same Institute she obtained a master’s degree in juvenile delinquency with an average of 10.00.
She has 7 years of active work experience with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Currently she is employed as a special educator and rehabilitator, as part of the professional team of the Secondary School “Kiro Burnaz”, Kumanovo, and previously worked as an educational assistant in a private kindergarten and two primary schools in Skopje (2013-2017). In the period from 2017-2018 she has worked in a professional service at the high school “Pero Nakov” Kumanovo, where cooperation and active coordination of various ERASMUS projects begins.
Stojcevska was involved as a lecturer and trainer in several international projects (ERAZMUS +, RYCO, ASD-EAST) and continuously disseminated to parents, teachers and colleagues.
Teuta Ramadani Rasimi is a graduate special educators and rehabilitator with completed master’s and doctoral studies in the same field. She has more than 10 years of work experience in the field of special education and rehabilitation, of which seven as a doctoral student at the University of Tetova, three years at JUDG “Detska radost” Gostivar and one year as an inclusive special educator and rehabilitator in primary school. “Petar Zdravkovski Penko” in Skopje. She has published more than 10 papers in local and international journals, as well as a book in the field of special education and rehabilitation. Also, within her scientific activity, she has participated in a number of training and seminars on various topics related to autism, ABA therapy, TEACCH, PECS, sign language, etc.
Filip Jurtoski graduated as a special educator and rehabilitator, with a master’s degree in intellectual disability and autism has five years of work experience with children on the autism spectrum. He has attended and participated in a number of educational training, seminars, conferences and projects. As a co-author he has participated in the preparation of scientific papers and actively fights to raise public awareness of people with autism spectrum disorders by participating in various panel discussions and debates.
Bistra Stojanoska is a graduate of SUGS High School “Orce Nikolov” and also a volunteer at the Red Cross Karposh. She also works as a volunteer in ongoing projects at Blue Firefly. She gained her experience with children with disabilities as part of the “Humanko” project of the Red Cross, whose target group are children and young people with disabilities, from single-parent families and socially disadvantaged families. During the past two years she has attended several workshops and training to work with them, and was part of the camp “We are all the same 2” intended for the same group of children. She also volunteered in rehabilitation centers for the visually impaired and hearing impaired children. She plans to continue her future professional career at the Institute for Special Education and Rehabilitation in Skopje and to continue developing in order to help and support children and people with disabilities.