PGLU Provides Support to Families of Children with Autism
By: Zenaida D. Sellem, GPC-PSWDO | Photo By: GPC-PSWDO | Date: July 13, 2019
The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office supported the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) La Union Chapter in its advocacy campaign on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) through the conduct of seminar on July 13, 2019 at the PGLU Employees Child Development Center, Provincial Social Welfare & Development Office, City of San Fernando, La Union.
The activity, with the theme “Tackling Autism as a Family: Explaining Autism to my Other Children and its Impact,” aimed to empower family members and educators of children with autism.
Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist Dir. Angel Ramat who served as resource speaker said that public and professional awareness of autism has increased in the new millennium because of increased media coverage and rapidly expanding body of knowledge. In terms of what the family members and educators can do, she said, “Finding treatment that addresses your child’s needs, rather than focusing on what to call the problem, is the most helpful thing you can do.”
The most recent data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about one in every 88 children has ASD, and children of La Union is no exemption. With the full support of the PGLU, the members of ASP La Union Chapter is continuously pushing public awareness. They aim to help individuals with ASD and caregivers learn about treatment options and ASD-related programs.
ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder and every child on the autism spectrum has unique abilities, symptoms, and challenges. The campaign is expected to help people interacting with people with ASD discover proper ways to mingle with them.
