PAST EVENTS
World Autism Awareness Day 2013
Autism Awareness Jamboree
AFA organised Autism Awareness Jamboree-AAJ at the India Habitat Centre amphitheater and as in the previous years, one of the major attractions at the AAJ was the inclusive Art Carnival that was attended by about 150 children from various schools across Delhi. Parents who were present at the event, also availed the Free Consultations from a range of professionals including a psychiatrist, neurologist, pediatrician, dentist, psychologist, special educators and occupational therapists.
This year, our annual Awareness Information Mail on autism targeted Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and Ministers of State Governments, as well as corporates.
Views of Planet Autism
An Art exhibition at the Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre, showcases the works of artists on the autistic spectrum
Annual Day
Celebrate Diversity: Celebrate Autism- Students of Open Door and other programmes at AFA performed in a fun filled evening at AFA Annual Day at the National Centre For Autism on 19 April.
Light it up Blue
As a part of its awareness raising programmes, AFA once again joined in the Light It Up Blue campaign initiated by Autism Speaks on 1 and 2 April, wherein landmarks around the globe were turned their lights blue to create awareness about autism. Humayun’s tomb, Red Fort, PuranaQuila, QutabMinar were all lit up blue in Delhi. We continued to encourage the government, our partner organisations within India and other South Asian countries to work towards lighting up our cities, organisations and houses BLUE.
World Autism Awareness Day 2012
Autism Awareness Jamboree
On 2 April, to mark, World Autism Awareness Day, anArt Carnival & free multidisciplinary consultation camp was organised at the amphitheatre, India Habitat Centre.ShriAnand Sharma, Hon Min of Commerce and Industry and a parent of a child with autism and ShriMukulWasnik, Hon Min of SJE, graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and Chief Guest respectively.
The free consultation was provided by a clinical psychologist, dentist, paediatric neurologist, special educator and occupational therapists.
Views From Planet Autism 2012
A group show by artists on the autism spectrum was organised at the Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre from 6 April to 8 April. The event was sponsored by the National Trustand the show was inaugurated by eminent artistShriJatin Das.
Annual Day
Celebrate Diversity: Celebrate Autism…AFA’s Annual Day was celebrated at the National Centre for Autism on 8 April, wherein children and young adults with autism enthralled the audience with their performances.
Light it up Blue
On 1 and 2 April, National Institutes in Delhi, the Char Minarin Hyderabad and the Ripon Building in Chennai were all lit in blue to create awareness on autism.
Tickers on TV Channels
Throughout 2 April, the TV channels, CNN IBN and IBN7 TV ran tickers saying ‘Today 2 April is World Autism Awareness Day’.
Workshop
A Workshop for Parents & Professionals on ‘Hanen: More Than Words’ andthe Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) by Veronica Smith – was organised at National Centre for Autism on 5 April.
And
Greeting cards were sent to Ministers and school principals in the Delhi NCR region.
World Autism Awareness Day 2011
Autism Awareness Jamboree
An Art Carnival was organised on 1 April at the India Habitat Centre amphitheatre to promote increased understanding between children with autism and those attending mainstream schools.
Concurrently, a free multidisciplinary consultation camp for parents was organized with a developmental paediatrician, clinical psychologist, dentist, paediatric neurologist, special educators, and an occupational therapist.
Annual Day
On 10 April, the AFA Annual Concert was organized at the AFA premises, showcasing talents of people with autism attending different programs at the Open Door and other outreach programmes.
Light It Up Blue
Public buildings, on 1 and 2 April and private buildings, for the entire month of April, across India, were lit up in blue to create awareness on autism
Some of the buildings that were lit up in blue across the country were:
Delhi -Lotus Temple, India International Centre, Ernst and Young Corporate Offices,
Kolkata- Victoria Memorial, Asiatic Society (through Autism Society West Bengal)
Jalandhar- Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, Clock Tower, Niku Park, Prithvi's Planet Entertainment Centre and the Radisson Hotel (through SOCH Jalandhar)
Chennai - (several buildings through WE CAN Chennai).
Meeting with the Honourable Chief Minister of Haryana
On 2 April, a group of parents and teachers from AFA went to meet ShriBhupinder Singh Hooda and presented the Autism Rights Charter to him.
Party Celebrating Autism
On 2 April an ‘autism-friendly’ party with music, dancing, rock-climbing, food and fun, was organized, for persons with autism and their friends and family at the AFA premises
Distribution of Autism Awareness Materials
Autism Awareness materials were distributed to organizations across the country especially those registered with the National Trust
World Autism Awareness Day 2010
Meeting with Honourable President of India
On 1 April, Merry Barua, founder director, Action for Autism, pinned an autism lapel pin to MrsPratibhaDevisinghPatil, Honourable President of India, while a young man with autism presented the President with the Autism Rights Charter. Children with autism performed for the President and presented her with products they had made.Autism Awareness Jamboree
On 2 April, the Hon Minister of Commerce and Industry MrAnand Sharma was present at the amphitheatre, India Habitat Centre, for the Autism Awareness Jamboree to give away prizes to budding artists. The art competition at the India Habitat Centre is for children from mainstream as well as special needs schools with the goal to create and encourage awareness, as well as to foster and promote inclusion between children with special needs and those in mainstream schools. The competition, in which more than 200 children participated, was judged by artists SudhirPillai and Sonia Rodrigues. Parents availed free consultations at the same venue from the multidisciplinary team of experts present onsite. The team comprised of various specialists including a paediatrician, dentist, clinical psychologist, occupational therapists, special educators, music therapist and social workers.
Annual Day:
On Sunday 4 April, children with autism showcased their skills through skits, singing, and performing in a play at the National Centre for Autism in JasolaVihar.
Baby Beri Show to mark WAAD:
On 2 April, celebrated fashion designer RituBeri and the Blessed Hearts Foundation held a fashion show at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in support of children with autism.
Awareness in CBSE schools:
Throughout April, the Autism Awareness Month, WAAD greetings were mailed out to principals of more than 1500 CBSE schools in the National Capital Region, along with dispatching information on the directive for inclusion from the Chairman of CBSE that states that students with autism should not be evicted from their schools.
Current Understanding Of The Diagnosis Of Autism And Treatment Options:
On Wednesday 7 April, a talk was conducted by Dr VikramDua, a renowned child and adolescent neuropsychiatrist with expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr Dua is on the faculty at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. The talk was held at the National Centre for Autism, JasolaVihar.
World Autism Awareness Day 2009
Message from the Indian President for WAAD
Message from the UN Secretary General on WAAD 2009
WAAD 2009 list of events in Bangladesh, India & Pakistan
World Autism Awareness Day 2008
Events in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
WAAD message from U.N. Secretary General
WAAD message from the President of India
