Its light in blue .. The companies celebrate the International Day of Autism

Under the patronage and presence of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and on the occasion of the International Automatic Day, the Open Minds Association lit the government interface under the title: “Blue in blue” at a ceremony held this evening in Al -Saray to raise awareness of the autism spectrum disorder.

The ministers of social affairs, Hanin Al -Sayed, Tourism Laura Lahoud, Culture Ghassan Salama, Communications Charles Al -Hajj, Secretary -General of the Council of Ministers, Judge Mahmoud Makya, Mr. Maher Naguib Mikati and his wife Dana, the honorary president of the Open Minds Association in addition to the association’s board of directors and a number of media professionals.

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At first, the president of the association, Ghida Rabat, spoke and said: “We celebrate together the International Day to accept unification, under the light of the blue color, the color of hope and containment. In the name of OpenMinds I want to give a great appreciation to His Excellency the Ministers present with us, and the Lebanese government that shares us on this day, and confirms that supporting issues of people with special needs is a national, humanitarian, and moral duty.”

She added: “For more than ten years, specifically in 2012, OpenMinds has been working to be alongside every person who has special needs, and to be a support for his family.

She announced that “this campaign is a message, as the world lights up every year its basic landmarks in blue – from New York, to Dubai, Fattokio, London, and today also in Beirut,” she added: “This is evidence that Lebanon is part of this global voice that demands acceptance, respect, and equal to all.”

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In turn, the Minister of Social Affairs, Hanin Al -Sayyid, said: “I am pleased and honored to participate with you today by lighting the great interface in the blue color that symbolizes calm and acceptance, at the invitation of the Open Minds Association to highlight the unification, one of the most prominent challenges facing families in our societies.”

She added: “What distinguishes the Open Minds Association, is that it takes great importance to scientific research, and I have in one of the studies published on its website, that the average spread of autism in 177 nurseries in the governorates of Jabal Lebanon and Beirut is 1 out of every 66 children, compared to the United States that registered according to recent studies 1 of every 36 children. We of course need For more studies and deepening in the proportion of unification in Lebanon, but this study is sufficient for the alarm, because the world is in light of a significant increase in proportions for 20 years.

She continued: “Despite this, unification is not a death sentence, because the good management of this situation has become available if the correct information and practical advice to the family or the careers of the care. So, this day is an opportunity to celebrate these distinguished people who hide a lot of energies, talents, dreams and capabilities, just like any other person. Our society with all its components that the diversity of humans is rich, and the importance of integrating people who suffer from autism into society, because they deserve a chance to live a natural and generous life, to be producers and learn how to rely on themselves, like any member of society.

And she added: “On the basis of these principles, the Ministry of Social Affairs pays great attention to issues of people with disabilities in general through the program to secure the rights of disabled people and the cash allowance program for persons with disabilities. Since 2012, the Ministry has begun to diagnose children who suffer from autism through a specialized team to be able to provide the services available to them via the personal disability card, knowing that the ministry issued 2157 with a disability card Personality for individuals suffering from autism. There are also 12 contracting institutions with the ministry that provide services and programs for people who have autism. ”

She said: “As for the cash support, starting this month, the month of April, the cash allowance program for persons with disabilities has become targeting all age groups for holders of good personal disability card, and of course among them who suffer from autism. We also launched a workshop last week at several levels to determine the priorities in the ministry, most notably securing more support for all holders of the ID card.”

And she continued: “Inclusion is not only the responsibility of the official bodies and institutions, but it is the responsibility of everyone. Every individual in society can play a role with the help of everyone who suffers from autism provided that he and his family feel acceptance and respect. Therefore, we must join hands and work together to provide a supportive and appropriate environment for them, and it is necessary to enable them to enhance them. The chances of integrating them into society, which requires cooperation and coordination between governmental, civil, medical and educational agencies.

She concluded: “From this pulpit today, I invite each of its location, from government employees and teachers, the families of students in schools and universities, doctors and media people … to contribute to spreading awareness about autism. Each of us is able to be part of the solution, through understanding first, and providing support and support. A small step from each of us, we can make a positive difference in the life and future of everyone who suffers from autism. ”