UN will observe World Autism Awareness Day

UsaNewsOnline.com, New York, April 1: World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2. In observance of the day, the United Nations will arrange a number of special events during the day including two panel discussions to motivate the global community to develop and implement strategies to early identification of autism and social awareness and understanding of it to build an inclusive society.

The permanent mission of Bangladesh will co-sponsor these two major events.

In the morning, the discussion titled “Employment: The Autism Advantage” will be held where Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Under Secretary General for communication and public information Cristina Gallach will address the opening session. The event will focus on measures required to support growth in employment opportunities for people on the autism spectrum.

In the afternoon, a panel discussion jointly co-hosted by the permanent missions of Bangladesh and Qatar and Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization with worldwide network, titled “Science, Collaboration & Answers for the Global Autism Community” will be held.

Saima Wazed Hossain, chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh and daughter of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a renowned child psychologist will address the session. She will also participate in the morning session.

Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, Suzane Wright and Bob Wright, the founders of the Autism Speaks, among others, will attend the program.

Permanent representative of Bangladesh Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen and permanent representative of Qatar Alya Ahmed S. Al-Thani will moderate the program.

Both the programs will be live on the UN WEB TV.