Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Lattakia, SANA – The Autism Association in Lattakia launched a wide-scale campaign of diverse activities marking the World Autism Awareness Day celebrated on the second day of April every year.
The month-long campaign includes workshops, training courses, and exhibitions in order to promote products of the association’s members and the affiliated “Jubran Institute.”
Raising awareness of Autism is the association’s main objective, said Chairperson of the Association’s board of directors Shahideh Salloum, adding that the 90 beneficiaries are participating in the two-day workshops which are dedicated to parents, teachers and those who are interested, aiming at knowing more about this disorder, shedding light on the association’s efforts, and enhancing their experience to deal with children diagnosed with autism.
She noted that the a training course will also be held in cooperation with the Syrian Organisation for the Disabled, AAMAL in order to train the Association’ s cadres, improve their skills to better deal with children with autism.
Salloum underlined the standing cooperation between the Association, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East and the UN Higher Commission for Refugees to implement the vocational training program which is a non-profit project which aims at activating the role of disabled people so that they become influential members and contribute to the building of their society.
The campaign also included the association’s participation in the Second Spring Festival held last week at the National Museum in Lattakia where 35 of the association’s members showcased their products, side by side with Artist Salloum who participated with a set of paintings tackling several topics such as nature, women and the current circumstances taking place in the country.
Artist Rima Ra’ei presented some paintings made of sea stones collected from Lattakia beaches and painted with beautiful colors.
The Autism Association, a civil society in Lattakia city licensed in 2006, aims at providing educational, health and social care to children with autism, in addition to cooperating with concerned parties to get these children engaged in their society, raise awareness about this disorder, and train families to deal with their children who are diagnosed with autism.
R.Raslan/Mazen
