Jonida Maliqi has spoken openly about her journey with her son, Dani, who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, sharing not only his progress over the years but also how, according to her, the family faced a harsh and offensive approach in the early stages of the diagnosis.
Her account of the early years and accepting the diagnosis
The singer said she had realized early on that Dani was different from other children, but publicly accepting the situation had been difficult. She described the period as emotionally heavy and said she had not thought she would find so much strength to face everything.
According to her, her son has made visible progress and is now in adolescence, while the family has been continuously present in supporting him. Maliqi said Dani speaks two languages and attends school.
Strong accusations against the first psychologist
Maliqi said that at the end of 2015, after a meeting of about half an hour with the first psychologist, she and the child’s father were told that they were not “worthy parents” and that their son would never speak or socialize.
She called this communication a severe blow and used harsh language toward psychologist Anjeza Dishnica, accusing her over the way the assessment was delivered. According to Maliqi, the problem was not only the content of what they were told, but also the way it was communicated to a family at a delicate moment.
Changing centers and Dani’s progress
After that episode, Maliqi said the family turned to another center, which she identified as Liri Berisha’s center. According to her account, Dani was followed there by a team of five doctors.
At this stage, she said the situation took a different direction and that her son achieved progress that runs counter to the bleak prediction made at the beginning. Her statement once again raises questions about standards of professional communication with parents in sensitive cases involving mental health and children’s development.
Family disputes also ended up in court
Maliqi also spoke about her relationship with her ex-husband and the issues that, according to her, became public after he decided to pursue the legal route for the separation. She said the separation was initially by agreement, but the situation later changed and the matter went to court over several different aspects.
According to her, she had chosen to keep this part as private as possible, for the sake of her son and the family. However, after the matter became public, Maliqi said she considered it necessary to provide an explanation for the public and has now left the process to the justice system.
Her message: the child’s rights remain at the center
In the end, Maliqi stressed that the epicenter of everything remains her son. She said communication on issues related to him has never been lacking and that she has constantly tried to find the right language for a solution.
She indicated that she would speak publicly only if she saw that any right of her son was being denied, while expressing hope that the parties would reach a reasonable solution.
Her account draws attention not only to the personal burden on parents in such cases, but also to the responsibility professionals bear when communicating diagnoses and predictions that can deeply affect a family’s life.
At the core of Maliqi’s statements remains a demand for dignity, professional care and respect for the child, far from rushed verdicts that, as she claims, can leave serious consequences.