Jan’s spoken requests to go back to school have lessened these days.
Chapter 8
It Even Has Its Own Day
The 1st Step
It would be nice to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.
The third annual World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) was marked on 2 April, 2010.
WAAD was proclaimed by a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. Autism is one of only three health issues to be recognised by the UN with its own “day”.
Autism Speaks1, the world’s biggest science and advocacy organisation for autism founded by Bob and Suzanne Wright, highlighted the third annual WAAD with a host of events worldwide, running from 31 March through April.
Yoko Ono Lennon is Autism Speaks’ first Global Autism Ambassador. (Coincidentally, Jan is a fan of the Beatles.)
Also, in accordance with the “Light It Up Blue: Shine a Light on Autism campaign”2, structures and landmarks around the world were lit up on the eve of WAAD. These included the Empire State Building and Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Hungary’s Parliament Building and the Bell Tower in Perth, Australia.
I have imagined the Esplanade, the Istana, the Merlion and the Singapore Flyer lit up in blue on WAAD. It is an enchanting thought.
Dignitaries and public figures from the Dominican Republic, Belgium and the European Council had also recorded public service announcements for World Autism Awareness Day in 2010.
One can access on the WAAD website3, among other things, autism information in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Korean, Russian and Spanish. (Imagining people with autism all over the world speaking all these languages and more is a stupendous thought.)
Events took place worldwide, such as mass walks, mass meetings and get-togethers to raise awareness. There were, too, performances and rallies, and light-ups and exhibitions among many others. The countries that took part in 2010 were Ghana, Uruguay, Brunei, India, France, Vietnam, Japan, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Greece, Hungary, Bangladesh, Ireland, Australia, the United States, Jamaica, Bahrain, Nigeria, New Zealand, Pakistan, Malta, Mexico, Philippines, Scotland, Taiwan, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Canada and Cameroon.
World Autism Awareness Day shines a spotlight on autism. Autism is something that touches people worldwide. It happens, of course, right here at home too. WAAD activities help to enhance public knowledge, awareness and sensitivity to autism. It lets people know the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention.
With more knowledge and information reaching people, it would be easier for individuals with autism to find their place among their non-autistic counterparts.
One can hope.
The 2nd Step
In an article4 posted on the Singapore socio-political website The Online Citizen on 26 April 2011, a father of a child with autism called for more local recognition for World Autism Awareness Day, and more support for those with autism in general. He penned that parents and Voluntary Welfare Organisations, without stronger governmental support, do not have enough resources to manage the challenges that autism presents.
‘Autism affects 1 in 105 children every year,’ wrote the father. ‘With Singapore’s population at 5 million, there are probably 47,000 individuals with autistic conditions. It is not easy to appreciate the challenges faced by autistic people when they look so “normal”.’
I knew what he meant. It is this “looking normal” business that makes some folks misunderstand autistic individuals so easily.
‘This fellow looks like one of us,’ they say. ‘Why is he doing such silly things? It does not add up.’
The father also wrote, ‘Every autistic individual should be given the best chance to become independent and productive in this country.’
As with Jan’s case, I suppose, this father has seen so much potential for these individuals with autism that is simply left to fade away.
This father appealed for more to be done for those on the spectrum. He highlighted the deficiencies of current developmental screening standards for children suspected to have autism, the lack of comprehensive schooling plans for autistic individuals, and how resources are stretched too thinly.
He lamented the lack of homes and facilities to care for autistic adults who no longer have families to depend upon, of low autism awareness among employers, and the lack of laws to protect those with autism from discrimination in their daily lives.
This father was a lone voice in crying out what so many others affected by autism have felt and thought.
He also entreated Singapore to sign the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (The Ministry of Youth, Community Development and Sports has since stated that Singapore will sign this sometime in 2012.) And here I was, only longing to see our landmarks lighted up in blue to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.
‘Embrace diversity. Include autism,’ he concluded. ‘Singapore can change. It can start by truly embracing diversity, and including autism in this endeavour. Perhaps, leadership should be demonstrated by the Prime Minister’s Office.’
I do not know much about politics. I am glad I do not have to run a country, as it is not the easiest thing to do. I do not know what I would ask the Prime Minister if I were to meet with him to talk about autism. I would have to think long and hard about the things I would tell him, because there are too many stories.
Imagine myself going to meet the Prime Minister with a grumpy Jan tagging along.
He would kindly ask us to have a seat and then ask me what Jan would like to have. I would tell him, “Milo, sir. He likes Milo. Oh, and also chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies.”
‘So what can I do for Jan?’ he would ask, sitting down himself as we wait for the biscuits.
‘I don’t know, sir.’ I would sigh, gesturing to Jan. ‘What would you do with him?’
He would think about it
