Thursday, July 12, 2018
World Austin Awareness Day Observance 2018
Guyana joins the “Light it up Blue” World Austin Awareness Day Observance 2018.
By Karen Hall -FEH
Autism awareness celebrates the achievement of families and persons on the spectrum
annually in April. The United Nations set aside April 2 as World Autism Awareness
Day. Suzanne and Bob Wright co-founders of Autism Speaks launched Light it up
Blue up movement in honour of their grandchild with Autism. Since then 150
countries participates each year. The University of Guyana in collaboration with
Sorsha Foundation joins in the Light it up Blue movement on April 2 and 6, 2018.
The buildings sparkled in unified acknowledgement internationally from the White
house in the US to the UG Registry here in Guyana.
UG did it twice. In a simple yet profound ceremony on Friday 6 the Public Relations
Department, Faculty of Education and Humanities and Sorsha Foundation co hosted
The light up. Speakers were Karen Williams, Sorsha Foundations and final year
student Monique Perdroo. One of the highlights of the speeches was the need for
more local recognition and training for teachers within the education sector. The
media was also present.
A rudimentary research showed that Autism is a neurological exceptionality first
diagnosed by 1887- Dr. John Langdon Down and the term Autism Spectrum Disorder
was first used 1940s by Leo Kanner from the United States and Hans Asperger from
Germany. Although the origin is still largely unknown the identification procedures
which currently exist could recognise children on spectrum from as early as 18
months.
At the University of Guyana, the Faculty of Education and Humanities offers two
courses in special education one of which focus on teaching students with specific
learning difficulties such as Autism and Dyslexia. The faculty is proposing to also
launch both the degree and masters programs in Special Education.
The University thanks the organisation(s) and media who partnered with us the launch
our Autism month awareness program and look forward to working with you in the
ongoing quest to bring to Guyana appropriate supports for families’ members who are
autistic.
Finally, some tips we should know when interacting with children and adults on the
spectrum. They would like those around them to realise that they mean what they say,
prepare them for changes, be patient when awaiting replies to questions, find out their
interest to start the conversation with what they know.
The Light up Blue April 6
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