A heated clash in the studio has put at the center not just a television debate, but the way families facing autism spectrum disorders are treated. Jonida Maliqi, speaking from personal experience as a mother, accused psychologist Anjeza Dishnica of taking a cold approach focused on therapy hours, while Dishnica defended her professional account of identifying and treating such cases.
The debate was sparked by the singer’s personal story
The clash took place during the program “Goca dhe Gra,” where the discussion began with the assessment and intervention for children on the autism spectrum, but quickly took on a personal tone. Jonida Maliqi spoke about her family’s experience during the assessment process for her son and the way, according to her, the situation was communicated.
The text did not use subhead paragraphs here, but the essence of the debate was that this experience had damaged her trust in the way such treatment is handled, not only professionally, but also on a human level.
Maliqi’s accusations against the psychologist
At the height of the debate, Maliqi claimed that the specialist had told her about her son that he “will never make it,” a wording she described as traumatic for parents. She also alleged that she had been recommended five to six hours of therapy per day at the psychologist’s center.
The strongest charge was the singer’s direct accusation that the children had been seen “as ATMs.” According to her, she was also advised not to send her son to kindergarten or school, but instead to involve him in many hours of therapy. These remain claims made by her during the live broadcast.
What Anjeza Dishnica said
For her part, Anjeza Dishnica said the issues had been identified from the very first contact with the family. According to her, the identification process begins at the initial meeting and then requires structured follow-up.
The psychologist stressed that assessment should be carried out by multidisciplinary teams and that parents should be informed about the importance of appropriate treatment. She also spoke about ABA therapy, saying that this method has been applied in Albania since 2014 and includes the development of individual skills followed by socialization.
A debate that raises broader questions
Beyond the harsh tone in the studio, the clash brings back into focus a sensitive issue: how parents are spoken to about diagnoses, where the line lies between professional recommendation and economic interest, and how transparent the service system is for children on the autism spectrum.
In the absence of an independent verification of the claims raised in the debate, what remains clear is the weight carried by the way families are communicated with and the need for professional standards that leave no room for doubt or abuse of parents’ trust.
The television debate brought to the surface not only the conflict between two public figures, but also a broader problem affecting many families in Albania.
When it comes to children on the autism spectrum, every claim about treatment, diagnosis and therapy requires not only expertise, but also a high degree of human responsibility.