Children with ASD receive noise-cancelling earmuffs as construction at the Gávea subway station enters the rock-blasting phase

As construction at the Gávea subway station advances to the stage involving the detonation of 60 meters of rock, Governor Cláudio Castro and the Secretary of Transport and Urban Mobility, Priscila Sakalem, delivered last week 20 earmuffs to children assisted by the State Diagnostic Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CEDTEA), a facility of the State Health Department (SES-RJ), located very close to the construction site.

The initiative, the result of coordination between the Secretariat of Transport and Urban Mobility, Riotrilhos, the Gávea Construction Consortium, SES-RJ, and Fundação Saúde, aims to ensure greater comfort for the children during the blasting period. Although all procedures follow strict safety standards, sirens and characteristic sounds may cause discomfort for those with auditory sensitivity.

A resident of Valença, in the southern region of Rio de Janeiro, homemaker Verônica Belém was referred to CedTea after noticing changes in the behavior of her 7?year?old daughter, Stefanie Belém Martins. The girl was the first child to receive the noise-cancelling earmuffs from the governor and immediately began using the equipment.

“Stefanie doesn’t like noise and becomes restless. This kind of care is very important in the daily routine of all children,” said her mother.

Stefanie has been attending CedTea for about a month and is expected to receive her diagnostic report early next year.

“Our routine will not be affected, and that makes all the mothers here very happy,” Verônica said.
With a simple yet thoughtful gesture, the State reinforces that urban development and social responsibility must — and can — move forward together.

— Reproduction, Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro