World Autism Awareness Day…First Lady hosts vigil at Children’s Monument
– to plug assistance for children with autism
By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally, April 2, 2014, Source
WORLD Autism Awareness Day, which is being observed today, is a day set aside to increase knowledge about autism, and give a voice to the millions worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. In an effort to educate people here, First Lady, Mrs Deolatchmee Ramotar hosted a vigil at the Children’s Monument in the National Park yesterday to encourage persons to work together to eliminate discrimination and encourage volunteerism to help children with autism. She encouraged teachers from the various schools present to continue the good job they have been doing in the caring and education of the children as well as their parents.
“In Guyana organisations such as the Green Heart Autistic Society, Step by Step Guyana, Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre and Helping Hands Guyana must be saluted for the work they are doing for autistic children and the foundation is available to assist in whatever way it can. The First Lady’s Foundation wishes to endorse and call for actions to enable children and persons with autism to live a full and meaningful life,” the First Lady stated.
Teachers and parents from the various schools related how they deal with autistic children on a daily basis, and acknowledged that it is not an easy task.
“World Autism Awareness Day is about more than generating understanding; it is a call to action. I urge all concerned to take part in fostering progress by supporting education programmes, employment opportunities and other measures that help realise our shared vision of a more inclusive world,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (United Nations Message for the World Autism Awareness Day 2014)
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and it has a tremendous impact on children and their families. This results from a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, mostly affecting children in many countries, irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status.
World Autism Awareness Day has been held every year since 9th September 1989 and in December 2007, the United Nations passed a resolution declaring April 2, World Autism Awareness Day.
