Events in Davao: Davao Celebrates 17th National Autism Consciousness Week

(image from specialeducation.departments.pwcs.edu)

The third week of January has been declared National Autism Consciousness Week, following Presidential Proclamation 711 signed in 1996 by then President Fidel V. Ramos.  This year’s celebration, slated on January 20-27, is the 17^th National Autism Consciousness Week and has adopted the theme, “Autismo Alamin Pagtanggap at Pag-unawa Palagananpin”, to promote the right information on autism that will pave the way for the public to truly understand and accept persons with autism as part of the society.

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 now considered the fastest rising developmental disability in the world.  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 8,000 members, with 62 chapters all over the country.

In Davao, the celebration organized by the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) Davao Chapter will kick off on January 20, 2:00 p.m. at SM Lanang Premier with the Angel’s Walk and Program.  One of the program’s highlights is the official launching of ASP’s “1Pangako”, a social media campaign that aims to gather one million pledges from individuals to act to stop the derogatory use of the word "autistic" as a joke or an insult; and to promise to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities.

The event is in partnership with SM Programs on Disability Affairs, SM Supermalls, SM Prime, National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), 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 Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA),  Mandaluyong City Government, Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM), NORFIL Foundation, Liliane Foundation, Archdiocese of Manila Ministry for Persons with Disabilities (AMMPD), Autism Hearts Foundation (AHF), and the Association of Adults with Autism, Philippines (AAAP). 

Be an Angel for Autism.  Join ASP Davao on January 20, 2:00 p.m. at SM Lanang Premier and support the 17^th National Autism Consciousness Week.  For more information, visit autismsocietyphilippines.blogspot.com.