DR RADICA MAHASE
ON Saturday, Trinidad and Tobago celebrates World Autism Awareness Day. April 2 was unanimously declared as World Autism Awareness Day in a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on December 18, 2007.
The UNGA’s decision to set aside one specific day to encourage autism awareness stems from the fact that: “The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and the lack of understanding has a tremendous impact on the individuals, their families and communities.” It also noted: “Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that manifests during early childhood, irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status.”
This year’s theme is Inclusive Quality Education for All, and it falls under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of quality education. This theme is in line with the UN’s universal value Leave No One Behind, under which UN member countries are committed to “eradicate poverty in all its forms, end discrimination and exclusion, and reduce the inequalities and vulnerabilities that leave people behind and undermine the potential of individuals and of humanity as a whole.” It is meant to reach “the poorest of the poor” by getting rid of discrimination and inequalities.
According to the UN, one of the main reasons why people are left behind is because of discrimination. This is indeed correct for TT, where people with special needs/disabilities continue to be discriminated against in all aspects of life and are denied their basic rights at many levels, especially in education.
The UN says, “Many of the barriers people face in accessing services, resources and equal opportunities are not simply accidents of fate or a lack of availability of resources, but rather the result of discriminatory laws, policies and social practices that leave particular groups of people further and further behind.”
This also is true for us in TT, where laws exist but are not implemented; where everyone is supposed to be equal, yet those with autism and all types of disabilities in general are marginalised in the education system; cannot access quality public healthcare; are seen an unemployable; and have limited opportunities for social interaction, amongst others.
[caption id="attachment_946998" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Rahul engages in educational activities at Rahul's Clubhouse, Marabella. - courtesy Rahul's Clubhouse[/caption]
Autism Awareness Day is meant “to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.” The UN notes that, “This can be done through appropriate support, accommodation and acceptance so that those on the spectrum can enjoy equal opportunity, and full and effective participation in society. Unfortunately, stigmatisation and discrimination prevent so many individuals with autism from accessing diagnosis and therapies.”
It is imperative that the support for people on the autism spectrum goes beyond that of civil societies. There is only so much NGOs can
