2009 World Autism Awareness Day/Month Events

Events in Nigeria Learn more about Autism

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The National Society for Autism Nigeria has line of events designed for this year’s Autism month which will formally launch all our sensitization efforts on Autism in Nigeria. Sensitization is a very important step as a foundation to help people living with ASD cope better. This is important because it takes the ignorance of the disorder off thereby controlling or stopping stigmatization and branding of these individuals as imbeciles, mad or evil. The society hopes to achieve its objectives of sensitizing the public through the following events;

• Sensitization Walk/Rally: This is aimed at creating awareness on autism. To achieve this, volunteer teachers, students, social workers, care givers and parents will be engaged in a walk in some of the major streets of Abuja.

• Lectures: An open lecture will be organized for the general public. This is to educate the public on diagnosis, early intervention and how to support families with Autism. This lecture will equip the medical practitioners, teachers; care givers and the public on ways the can help children living with Autism cope better.

• Goodwill Ambassador Award night: This is an advocacy effort aimed at creating a pool of Nigerian elites and change agents that will help advocate for policies in support of children living on the Autism spectrum in the country. Notable Nigerians have been selected from across the Federation to be recognized as goodwill ambassadors commending their humanitarian development in the country and to bring to their attention this very important developmental issue.

• Documentary: A documentary on autism titled ‘LIVING WITH AUTISM IN NIGERIA’; focusing on the challenges of families living with Autism in Nigeria, will be shown on National television stations.

• Autism Concert: This is another strategy aimed not only at creating mass awareness on Autism but also to raise funds. It is deemed a good avenue to disseminate information on Autism because it would attract an unrestricted audience.

ACTIVITY SCHEDULES

The events are slated to hold as follows:

Autism Sensitization walk/rally
Date: 1st April 2009
Venue: Eagle’s square, Abuja, Nigeria
Time: 10am

Lecture/Goodwill Ambassador Award Dinner
Date: 2nd April 2009
Venue: Transcorp Hilton congress hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria
Time: 10am-11am Lecture, 7pm-Dinner

Autism Concert
Date: 3rd April 2009
Venue: Transcorp Hilton congress hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria
Time:  3: 30pm