On April 6, Almaty, Kazakhstan held the third annual Autism Talks as part of the Asian Championship of Zone 3.4. The event, dedicated to the World Autism Awareness Day (observed every year on April 2) celebrated inspiring stories of parents of special children.
The event was organized by Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KFC), the national partner of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), as part of the FIDE’s Infinite Chess project.
The FIDE Infinite Chess initiative aims to develop inclusive chess education, and its first steps in Kazakhstan began in November 2024 at Special Boarding School No. 1. In 2025, the project expanded to Almaty, launching at the “Autism Pobedim!” Center, where international coach Vitaliy Kozyak trains two groups of students.
The program featured heartfelt presentations by parents, specialists, public figures, and experts. The speackerskers included: Aruzhan Sain, Aliya Arkharova, Zhanna Kalieva, Rustam Kairbekov, Madina Nurkenova, and others. The meeting was moderated by Dinara Gaplan.
As part of the expert session, the following professionals shared their knowledge and experience: psychiatrist Asel Ibraeva, behavioral analyst Asiya Kizatova, FIDE Infinite Chess ambassador Nadezhda Kravchuk, psychologist Bakyttygul Akhmetjanova, and UN volunteer Maulen Akhmetov.
“In collaboration with FIDE and the Bolashak Foundation, we at the Kazakhstan Chess Federation are committed to systematically developing inclusive initiatives. We deeply believe that chess is a language that does not require words, but has the power to unite. That is why we launched the Infinite Chess project, opening new horizons for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities,” said Darmen Sadvakasov, Vice President of KCF.
The event concluded with a simultaneous exhibition for children led by Grandmaster and the 2024 World Junior Champion, Kazybek Nogerbek, followed by a prize draw for partners that included chess sets, books, certificates, and courses.
Photos: Yevgeniy Kim