City lights up blue for world autism awareness day event

Parents, well-wishers join autistic children for celebrations with gifts

VASHI: " Light It Up Blue for Autism" with blue lights, blue clothes, and blue banners was held at Sunshine School for autistic students, Vashi, on the World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday. The United Nations- sanctioned day is commemorated globally on April 2 to create awareness about autism.

"We lit up blue lights in our school building and the staff and the parents wore blue dress on the occasion. Some youngsters came here and played games with them. Gifts were distributed and several other entertainment programmes were organised for autistic children," informed Paramita Majumder, founder of Sunshine School.

Parents of the autistic children say the day is important as spreading awareness about autism is really necessary.

Archana Patil, mother of 14year- old Jatin Patil, dressed in blue and showed her support through social media on Tuesday.

Patil said, "There is not much awareness about it in Panvel, and people should really learn about what autism is. To show my support, a few of my friends and I decided to dress in blue the entire day. I even changed my Facebook profile picture to blue to send a message about autism."

Nabanita Das, mother of a three-and-a- half-year old autistic boy from Nerul, said, "My son was diagnosed with autism around a year ago, and I did not have much idea about it in the beginning.

“I had to do proper research and I got to know that my son needs additional support and care. I have enrolled him for therapy at Sunshine school and since then he has improved with his speech and now he has started writing too. Every parent must take these steps at an early stage itself to help their autistic child, and not be afraid of what people will say."

Autism Support Navi Mumbai (ASNM), a community group of Mumbai- based Forum for Autism (FFA), is also going to organise awareness activities in the autism awareness month of April.

A workshop will be held on April 13 for teachers of pre-primary, nursery and play group to tell them about Autism and how to deal with autistic children.

The workshop will be jointly organised by Rotary club of Navi Mumbai, Vashi and ASNM. Dr Rupa Srinivasan, Developmental Paediatrician of Child Developmental Centre in Mumbai and Parul Kumtha, founding member of Forum for Autism will be the guest speakers at the event to be held on April 13.