| Aziz Idris |
BRUNEI Darussalam joined hundreds of countries across the world by symbolically illuminating the Dermaga Diraja in Bandar Seri Begawan with the colour blue last night to honour World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) which falls on April 2.
Now in its 11th consecutive year, the campaign was organised in collaboration with the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei together with the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA) Alumni Network and several other non-governmental organisations.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Empowering Women and Girls with Autism’.
Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and guest of honour, launched the Light-Up Blue campaign accompanied by Pengiran Zamri bin Pengiran Haji Bujang, the Vice President of SMARTER Brunei.
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Abdurrahman Zed Munawar, an individual with autism.
This was followed by opening remarks by Sharifah Adila Surya binti Malai Haji Abdullah, the Vice Secretary of SMARTER Brunei, in her capacity as personal representative for his father, Malai Haji Abdullah bin Malai Haji Othman, the President of SMARTER Brunei who was unable to attend the celebration last night as he is currently in New Delhi accepting the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian award in India for his tireless work for autism.
The President of SMARTER Brunei conveyed his message that the award is dedicated for SMARTER Brunei and to all parents, families and individuals with autism, and hopes that this year’s WAAD marks the start of “the acceptance” for all individuals with autism.
Sharifah Adila Surya outlined all the achievements and acknowledgments that SMARTER Brunei have received throughout its 17 years of operations. She added that the campaign is not just in April, but will continue throughout the whole year.
“Over the course of this year, SMARTER Brunei will conduct numerous workshops, forums and trainings specifically for parents, family members and
professionals,” she said. “We have high hopes and will continuously strive to ensure that not only awareness of autism in Brunei is high, but the acceptance of autism is just as, if not, stronger.”
The night also saw a video presentation ‘Empowering Women and Girls with Autism’ followed by a special performance by SMARTER Brunei students.
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