This April, and in celebration of the international Autism Awareness month, the Future Centre for Special Needs is organising its third annual Autism Awareness Walk along the capital’s Corniche. ‘This isn’t a fundraiser – although we do organise those as well. This is just to remind people about autism, and increase awareness because the city needs just that,’ says Hala Ghassan, the centre’s PR coordinator.
The event kicks off at the Corniche Beach Entrance with a gathering of runners and families. Also on the guest list are multiple school and university students, as well as staff, all of whom are invited to man kiosks and get involved with a presentation on autism. The centre itself will hand out simplified brochures that give quick-reference guides to symptoms and detection, ‘Autistic mannerisms are typically detected when the child is about two years old, and there are a few things you really need to look for to notice it,’ adds Hala.
Solid statistics on autism in the UAE are not available, but the worldwide prevalence is around two people in every thousand. If it’s any indication, about 20 per cent of Future Centre’s students are autistic, and the organisation hopes the many dedicated institutions will make a strong showing this year in support of the cause.
Autistic symptoms include glitches in social interaction, communication and sometimes repetitive behaviour, but these are difficult to detect, especially if parents are unaware of the disorder: ‘Autistic children may show delayed speaking abilities, or delayed reaction times – but they are not to be confused with children who have Down’s Syndrome; you cannot identify autism through the child’s features,’ says Hala.
The cause may be serious, but the event is meant to be fun. Right at the launch gate you’ll find plenty of family and children’s activities, including magicians, clowns, face painting and games. The idea is to make learning entertaining, to both children and parents, and get families to mingle with each other. The centre will be giving out plenty of gifts including toys, T-shirts, balloons and candles, so grab them while supplies last.
Last year the walk included more than 1,000 participants, and ended up at the gates of Womad. ‘Many of our walkers meant to go to the Womad launch anyway, and we thought it a great idea to fit our walk into their schedule. This also works because it’s like a small prize at the end of their walk, which is why we’re doing it again this year,’ says Hala.
The folks at the centre were rather happy with the 2010 turnout, but hope this year’s walk will attract – and educate – many more people.
The walk is free. Call 02 666 9625 to register. The third Autism Awareness Walk starts on Thursday, April 7, at the Corniche Beach Entrance. Entertainment and registration are at 6pm, and the walk itself starts at 7pm.
Autism facts
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There are dozens of treatments for autism – but no cure, or medical detection
• There are many theories on the causes, but no consensus
• Children rarely outgrow autism; it is usually a lifelong diagnosis
• Intensive early intervention may help symptoms decrease radically for some people
• Autistic people have many strengths and abilities
Symptoms of autism
• No babbling or pointing at objects by the age of one
• No single words by 16 months, or two-word phrases by age two.
• No response to their name, and poor eye contact. No noticeable social responsiveness
• Excessive arrangement and lining up of objects or toys
• Difficulty making friends, absence of social play
• Lack of imagination, abnormally intense interest patterns
• Inflexible adherence to routines
