April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that manifests during early childhood. Appropriate support, accommodation and acceptance allow those on the Spectrum to enjoy full participation in society. New ways of working, including remote working and the use of new technologies, have created opportunities for employees on the autism spectrum that previously found it difficult to thrive in traditional workplace environments. What is required is that disruptions such as COVID-19 pandemic do not result in rollbacks of the rights of persons with autism, including the right to work.
The World Autism Awareness Day today is an occasion to celebrate diversity and promote the rights of persons with autism. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ in his message for World Autism Awareness Day observed that as the world is working together to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis has created new obstacles and challenges. “But efforts to reignite the global economy offer an opportunity to reimagine the workplace to make diversity, inclusion and equity a reality. Recovery is also a chance to rethink our systems of education and training to ensure that persons with autism are afforded opportunities for realizing their potential.”
However, as Guterres said, breaking old habits will be crucial. For persons with autism, access to decent work on an equal basis requires creating an enabling environment, along with reasonable accommodation.
www.globalbihari.com is glad to repeat play the documentary, I’m Special, My World Is Different, about an autistic child whose parents are very hopeful that one day their son will earn laurels for himself and for them. Click the following link to watch the short documentary:
Special Screening: I’m Special, My World Is Different
– global bihari bureau
