neurofriends retreat · italy
A villa in Tuscany.
A retreat where children and parents can rest. No pressure. No judgement. Together.
neurofriends retreat · italy
A retreat where children and parents can rest. No pressure. No judgement. Together.
about the retreat
A family-supportive retreat in Italy, under the auspices of the Dysfázka z.s. association, for families with children with developmental language disorder, autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental differences. No need to explain anything. No expectation of performance. Just space to be together — in calm and safety.
Parents stay with their children throughout. Children have a half-day specialist programme each day, while parents have space to rest, without guilt. Small capacity, in a private villa reserved only for our group, held by an experienced team.
Best suited for children with mild to moderate difficulties who can join a small-group programme. For children with high individual support needs or combined complex diagnoses, the retreat may not be the right fit.
for whom is this
DLD, autism spectrum, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental differences — alone or in combination.
A holiday that doesn't ask your child to behave like everyone else's, and doesn't ask you to apologise for them.
A small community where the unspoken understanding does most of the heavy lifting.
Days with a soft shape, plenty of room to follow your child's rhythm rather than the schedule.
programme for children 3+
Sensitively led by a special pedagogue and a teaching assistant, in a small group, with no comparison and no performance pressure. Picture-based communication, quiet corners, the option to pause — every reaction is welcome.
activity
Playful activities focused on the senses, fine motor skills, and body awareness.
activity
A quiet space for calming, emotional regulation, and sensory wellbeing.
activity
Simple movement adapted to each child's abilities and preferences.
activity
Prepared activities for graphomotor skills, attention, and comprehension.
activity
A balance of structured group activities and unstructured time.
activity
Time outside in the villa garden and the surrounding Tuscan landscape.
a note on responsibility
For children aged 0–3, no separate programme is offered. They are welcome alongside their parents and a parent must be present at their activities. Children 0–3 are not charged.
for parents
While the children are in their programme, you have time to rest by the pool, to be together as a couple, or simply switch off for a while.
The community of families is the heart of the retreat. Sharing without judgement, friendships built between people who already understand.
Nobody explains. Nobody defends. Nobody is “too much” or “not enough.”
the location
A historic stone farmhouse from 1790 turned into a stylish stay with modern comforts — set in a quiet valley between Tuscany and Umbria, with a 12th-century castle a short walk away.
where exactly
Thick stone walls keep the interior pleasantly cool throughout the hot summer; every bedroom has a ceiling fan. The villa stands between Arezzo (Tuscany) and Città di Castello (Umbria) — country roads, vineyards, olive groves.
Six bedrooms across three connected zones, five bathrooms, two living rooms, and three kitchens. Outside: a private saltwater pool with valley views, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and BBQ, a pergola for al fresco dinners, and an aromatic garden with herbs and olive trees. The garden is fenced.
Villa Da Eva, Vocabolo Sottocasa no. 3, Frazione Lippiano, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina (Perugia, Italy).
essentials
Saltwater Pool
Pizza Oven & BBQ
Aromatic Garden
Fenced Garden
accommodation
The villa offers fixed bedroom types, each with double beds. There are no rollaway beds or separate children's beds — bedrooms are allocated individually based on each family's composition. Standard double bed width is 180–190 cm.
Da Vinci Suite · Bedroom 1
1 × double bed (150 cm)
Travel cot possible (with limits)
Suits 2 adults + 1 child up to ~5–6 years (co-sleeping with parents), or 2 adults + 1 child (3+) + a baby.
Da Vinci Suite · Bedroom 2
1 × double bed (180–190 cm)
Travel cot possible
Suits 2 adults + 1 child up to ~5–6 years (co-sleeping with parents), or 2 adults + 1 child (3+) + a baby.
Da Vinci Suite · Bedroom 3
1 × double bed (180–190 cm)
Travel cot possible
Suits 2 adults + 1 child up to ~5–6 years (co-sleeping with parents), or 2 adults + 1 child (3+) + a baby.
Bellini Suite · Bedroom 1
2 × double beds (180/190 cm + 180/190 cm)
Travel cot possible
Suits 2 adults + 2 children (3+), or 2 adults + 2 children + a baby.
Bellini Suite · Bedroom 2
1 × double bed (180–190 cm)
Travel cot possible
Suits 2 adults + 1 child up to ~5–6 years (co-sleeping), or 2 adults + 1 child (3+) + a baby.
Bocelli Suite · Bedroom 1
1 × double bed (180–190 cm)
Travel cot possible
Suits 2 adults + 1 child up to ~5–6 years (co-sleeping), or 2 adults + 1 child (3+) + a baby.
important
getting there
by air
From Prague, fly to Bologna with Ryanair. Direct flights to Florence with Volotea have been available since 22 March 2024.
To stay mobile during your stay, we recommend renting a car directly at the airport — we have very good experience with Sicily by Car.
by car
The fastest route runs through Plzeň — Munich — Innsbruck — Bolzano — Verona — Bologna — Florence — Arezzo — Monterchi — Lippiano.
From Monterchi, after about 3 km, take a sharp right toward Lippiano. Begin the climb up the hill, then in the first sharp left turn, take a right onto a gravel road. The road bends left, and after about 50 metres you're there.
around the villa
in nature
history & culture
excursions
meals
Breakfast is included throughout the retreat. We provide the ingredients and prepare a shared morning spread, available from 7–9 AM. Specific dietary needs and preferences are welcome — there's space to prepare your own breakfast, too.
Lunches, dinners, and snacks are each family's own — to fit your needs, your tastes, and the rhythm of your day. The villa has three kitchens and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and BBQ.
pricing
The retreat is priced as a complete package — accommodation, the villa, and the children's specialist programme. Not a regular holiday. Not à la carte.
bedroom · 1 double bed
29,000 Kč
per occupied bedroom · per week
bedroom · 2 double beds
39,000 Kč
per occupied bedroom · per week
programme · child 3–7
10,000 Kč
per child · per week
Total = occupied bedroom + programme for each enrolled child 3–7. Children 0–3 are not charged.
also included
Use of villa, garden & pool · breakfasts · half-day specialist programme · all materials & activities for children · activity package per child · organisational support throughout the retreat.
a few more notes
our team
Founder & organiser
Mother of two — one with developmental language disorder — and founder of Dysfázka z.s. Andrea will guide both parents and children through the week, holding the rhythm and tone of the retreat.
read more about Andrea
Special pedagogue
Six years in a special-needs kindergarten, now in private counselling for children with SEN. Practical, gentle, visual methods. A long-standing collaborator with Yaroslava.
read more about Aneta
Teaching assistant
With Jedličkův ústav since 2015, assisting since 2019. Trained in sensory integration; long experience with children on the autism spectrum, with DLD, and with combined needs.
read more about Yaroslavainterested? next steps
Write to us. Without commitment, we'll talk through your family and check whether the retreat is a good fit.
A summary of the retreat and accommodation, pricing, cancellation conditions, and the documents to sign.
Sign the documents and pay a 60% reservation fee. Your spot is then firmly held.
The remaining payment before the retreat begins. Practical travel and stay information from us before you set off.
faq
Yes. The retreat is for families of children with neurodevelopmental differences — DLD, autism, ADHD, and related. Best suited for mild to moderate difficulties where the child can take part in a small-group programme. For high-support needs or combined complex diagnoses, the retreat may not be the right fit.
The programme is for children aged 3 to 7. For younger children (0–3) there is no separate programme — they're welcome alongside their parents and not charged.
The programme is part of the package and paid for every child aged 3+. Whether the child takes part on a given day is entirely up to them — we respect their pace and current state.
No. The retreat is conceived as a complete package — the specialist programme is part of it. A retreat without the programme is not possible.
It's normal for children with neurodevelopmental differences to need rest, or to have days when they don't want to take part. We gently offer alternatives. If a child decides not to take part on a given day, the fee is not refunded.
The retreat has small capacity. Only a limited number of families take part, so we can keep a calm atmosphere and an individual approach to each child.
Yes. Parents stay with their children for the entire retreat. This is not childcare or a separation — it's shared time with space built in.
Each family has their own bedroom. The villa is reserved for our group only — six bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living rooms, three kitchens. Bedroom allocation is agreed individually before confirmation, based on each family's sleeping needs.
A gentle, predictable shape: breakfast · half-day programme for the children · shared family time (pool, walks, free play) · quiet evenings. The programme rotates between mornings and afternoons so parents have time to rest.
We use picture-based communication, a visual day schedule, quiet corners, the option to pause, and respect for sensory needs. Children are not pushed into activities and can regulate according to their own needs.
Yes. Each family handles their own children's food. Three kitchens are available for cooking. Breakfasts are included as ingredients; lunches, dinners and snacks are each family's own.
The programme is led by an experienced special pedagogue and teaching assistant. Children are under professional supervision throughout the programme. The environment is calm and adapted to the children's needs.
Yes. Each child receives their own package with sensory activities, modelling clay, printed materials, and small gifts from partner brands.
The retreat is for families looking for calm, respect, and shared time. If you're unsure, we'd encourage you to write to us first — we'll happily talk it through, without commitment.
booking & contact
Founder & organiser · Dysfázka z.s.
Andrea will accompany both parents and children through the entire retreat in Tuscany — as the organiser of the event and founder of the Dysfázka z.s. association, which has long been dedicated to supporting families of children with developmental language disorder and other developmental challenges.
Andrea is, above all, a mother of two — and her son has developmental language disorder. Her personal experience with the everyday challenges, joys, and worries of parenting a child with special needs is the foundation of her work and her approach to families. She understands very well what parents are dealing with — not just from professional texts, but from her own life.
She is the founder and driving force behind the Dysfázka project, which aims to spread awareness, connect parents with professionals, and build a safe space for sharing, understanding, and support. Her long-standing focus is on developmental language disorder, sensory integration, sensory play, communication support, and the natural development of children in home and natural settings.
Andrea places emphasis on a calm atmosphere, on plenty of room for the individual needs of children and parents alike, and on realistic expectations — without pressure for performance or “the norm.” She believes that real growth happens when both child and parent feel safe and accepted.
Her aim in Tuscany is to create a harmonious and supportive environment where children can develop at their own pace, parents can finally rest, and families can experience time together without stress, with respect for each member's uniqueness.
During the retreat, Andrea will hold the organisation of the whole programme, communication with parents, the connection between specialist and leisure programmes, and offer kind support to parents who want to share, ask, or simply be reminded that they're not alone in this.
“I believe that when both child and parent feel safe, understood and unjudged, there is room for real growth — not only for the child, but for the whole family.”
Special pedagogue
In Tuscany, the children will be cared for by Aneta Vodvárková, a special pedagogue with many years of practice working with children with special educational needs.
Aneta studied special education and andragogy. She gained her professional experience primarily in a special-needs kindergarten, where for six years she worked with children with special educational needs — from autism spectrum disorders, through developmental language disorders and ADHD, to combined disabilities. There she built a deep respect for each child's individuality, patience, and the ability to respond sensitively to their needs.
She currently works in a private counselling centre for children with special educational needs, where she provides individual support to children and their families. She also organises trips, leisure activities, and individual care for children with special needs — together with Yaroslava, with whom she forms a coordinated team and has many shared events and retreats behind them.
Aneta sees her work with children as a partnership built on trust, respect, and understanding. Each child has their own pace, their own way of perceiving and communicating — her aim is to accept these differences and use them to support the child's strengths. She works mostly practically, playfully, and with visual support, using proven methods and tools that help children orient themselves in the world around them and within themselves.
She also places great emphasis on collaboration with the family, because that is what makes long-term, meaningful support possible.
During the retreat in Tuscany, Aneta will be available to children in structured and free activities, in movement, in games, and in ordinary moments of the day — always with respect for their individual needs.
“Every child has the potential to thrive when we create an environment where they feel safe, understood and accepted.”
Teaching assistant
Part of the team during the Tuscany retreat will be Yaroslava (Jaruška), a teaching assistant with long experience working with children with special educational needs.
She has been with Jedličkův ústav since 2015, working as a teaching assistant since 2019. Her practice focuses on individual support for children with special educational needs and on building a safe, comprehensible environment in which children can feel secure.
She has completed the Teaching Assistant course, training in sensory integration in pedagogy and special education, and a first aid course (IPRK). She continues to develop her professional education.
Yaroslava has extensive experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), neurodevelopmental disorders, developmental delays, intellectual disability, and developmental language disorder. She approaches each child individually, with respect and patience, with emphasis on their strengths.
During the retreat, Yaroslava will support children in everyday activities, in games, and in ordinary moments. Her calm, empathetic approach helps children better cope with new environments, with change, and with social interaction.
“I approach every child individually, with respect and patience. I try to build on their strengths and create an environment where they can feel safe and accepted.”