Dr. Xhakli serves as an inspiration to us all, and we are truly honored to have her as the Vice Chair of our society. Dr. Shpresa Xhakli MD, is a licensed physician who earned her medical degree from the Medical University of Pristina in Kosovo. She has served her hometown of Mitrovica across multiple settings—including ambulance services, the emergency department, and hospital care—and has also shared her expertise as an instructor in internal medicine. Shpresa is the founder of United for Autism and a passionate advocate for children with special needs. She immigrated to the United States in 1986 to continue her medical career, but her life’s course changed profoundly when her son, Arben, was diagnosed with autism.
Driven by love and determination, she dedicated herself to raising awareness, improving education, and expanding services for children with autism and their families. Dr. Xhakli began her advocacy work in the United States, serving on the board of The Alpine Learning Group and fundraising for the New England Center for Children with Autism in Boston, Massachusetts. During the Kosovo war, she also played an active role in humanitarian relief efforts—organizing donations, providing housing for refugees, and supporting United Nations initiatives through UNIFEM and HCUND. In 2009, Dr. Xhakli brought her mission back to Kosovo, organizing training programs for teachers and psychologists, equipping schools with essential resources, and ultimately founding United for Autism. Under her leadership, autism centers were established in Peja, Prizren, Ferizaj, Podujevë, Suharekë, and Preshevë. She also coordinated the delivery of supplies to two centers in Tetovë, one in Shkodër, and provided donations to support children in Ulqin, Montenegro.
In 2012, Shpresa achieved a historic milestone by opening the first school for children with autism in Kosovo, which now serves more than 120 students. Her tireless efforts also played a key role in the passage of national legislation protecting the rights of children with special needs, and she continues to advocate for better diagnostic services and improved healthcare across the region. Shpresa’s work is far from over. She is currently organizing specialized training for adults with autism and leading the development of a new day program called Autizmi in Pristina. This center will provide much-needed adult care services, including structured activities and weekly programs—resources that have not previously existed in Kosovo.