4th World AUTISM Awareness Day Celebration
April 2, 2011
ASEAN AUTISM NETWORK Theme “ACT FOR AUTISM NOW”
Autism is now considered the fastest rising developmental disability in the world, autism prevalence in children rose from 1:150 to 1:110. (Released by Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network in 2009). More will be diagnosed with autism than diabetes, cancer and AIDS combined in the coming years.
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Recognizing the gravity and urgency of this situation the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 62/139 on December 18, 2007 declaring World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) to be celebrated April 2, 2008 and in perpetuity. This UN Resolution is one of the few official disability-specific United Nations Days that aims to bring the world’s attention to autism.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how an individual interprets what he sees, hears, and touches, thereby impairing his understanding and use of language and his adaptation to his environment. Autism is not curable but is treatable. When a child is diagnosed and receives intervention early in life; given the appropriate education and therapy; they can become self-reliant and productive members of society.
In Southeast Asian Region, support organizations of parents having children with autism through the help of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asia Pacific Center on Disability (APCD) based in Bangkok, Thailand organized the ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) to advocate for the rights and welfare of persons with autism and their families in the region. AAN is headed by Thailand with members from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
AAN adopted “Act for Autism Now” as theme for this year’s celebration to emphasize the urgency to take action for autism NOW for millions of children in the region are diagnosed each day but programs and services are still not available especially in the remote areas. Diagnosticians and other professional service providers are lacking. Most of the population is not yet aware about autism so most often families experience the social stigma of having a child with autism.
In the Philippines, almost 1 million Filipino families are estimated to be affected with autism. Autism Society Philippines (ASP) has been in the forefront of providing services to families affected with autism. ASP has grown from the 11 mothers who bonded together for the causes of their children in 1989, to more than 7,000 members, with 48 chapters all over the country.
The event is in partnership with SM Programs on Disability Affairs, SM Supermalls, SM Prime, National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), House of Representatives Committee on Social Services, Buhay Party List, Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Katipunan ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas (KAMPI), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Education (DepEd) and Archdiocese of Manila Persons with Disabilities Ministry (AMO-PDM).
AAN call for the people of ASEAN to support the 4th World Autism Awareness Day Celebration. “ACT FOR AUTISM NOW” and make a difference in the life of persons with autism.
For more information call 7-903-5496 or visit
http://www.autismsocietyphilippines.org/
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