–Minister Manickchand says at autism awareness event

THE Ministry of Education and NCERD’s Special Education Needs Unit, in collaboration with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), held an autism walk and public awareness session on Friday in observance of World Autism Awareness Day.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, in her remarks said that she desires to live in a world where awareness about the equality of autistic persons is no longer needed.
“We have to work tirelessly, consistently and sensibly to remove the need for us to have autism awareness,” she said.

World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated annually on April 2.
With this year’s theme being, ‘Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World’, the minister emphasised that the efforts of the State have to be placed on putting systems in place in institutions to ensure inclusivity is not a cliché or a nice headline.

“Every time we separate ourselves or deny ourselves the talent of any single individual because of their gender, ethnicity, geographical origin, education level or disability, we deny ourselves the pace at which we should and could grow,” Minister Manickchand said.

Meanwhile, National Special Education Needs (SEN) Unit Officer Savvie Hopkinson shared that World Autism Awareness Day celebrates the resilience of those affected by the disorder, and supports causes as well as promotes awareness of the developmental condition.

“This autism month must, therefore, serve to refocus educators, re-energise parents, and mobilise communities. It must arrest the attention of citizens, and direct them to the beneficial changes taking place in our schools,” Hopkinson shared.

Also speaking was Director of NCERD Quenita Walrond-Lewis, who thanked the attendees in advance for the continuation of their support and efforts in future activities planned for the month of April.

“NCERD’s Special Education Needs Unit is thrilled, once again, to lead the charge in heightening awareness of autism, and the increased magnitude of this particular kickoff celebration is a signal that we, as an agency and as a ministry, are gaining ground in our efforts to champion, not just awareness but longer strives to inclusivity,” she said.

She noted that it is not only inclusivity in the educational sphere like the classrooms but also in the workplace, so that all citizens can activate their right to access employment freely and fairly.
Additionally, in an autism dialogue, a team of SEN officers shared with the public what autism is.

“Autism is a developmental disability, and it manifests itself before an individual is three years old,” one of the team members said.

They noted that while many scientists have done the research, there is no definite cause. To identify autism, it may be found that a person makes limited eye contact or may have difficulties with verbal communication, as well as in children, they may sometimes not respond when being spoken to. There may also be an impairment in their social skills, and even restrictive repetitive movements or behaviour.

The team informed that different strategies can be used to manage autism. They explained that an intensive substantive special education needs programme is put in place to provide structured teaching, language therapy, social skills therapy and more to help ensure the condition is properly managed.

For the month of April 2022, there is a calendar of activities planned. An Autism Artism Sip and Paint in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and several information sessions and outreaches around the country, are among the events to be held.