Moms have different challenges in raising their kids. Some of them are faced with children being diagnosed of having ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorders. Any support or additional information, including moves of both private and government entities towards research and awareness on Autism is highly appreciated. Knowing that we are not alone in looking for early detection, prevention and better treatment for this may as well serve as support, as the published news below state.
PGH TO GET P10-M GRANT FOR AUTISM
By Jun Medina, Special Correspondent of the Manila Times.Net
NEW YORK CITY: Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo announced on Tuesday a P10-million (about $200,000) donation to the state-run Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for the establishment of a research center for autism. Speaking as one of the honorary co-chairmen of the Second Annual World Focus on Autism held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel here, President Gloria Arroyo’s husband said that the P10-million grant will come from the private funds of the First Gentleman Foundation Inc. (FGFI). He is popularly referred to as “First Gentleman.”
“This center, to be located within the PGH, will be dedicated to research and development on autism cases, especially among the poor sector of our society,” Mike Arroyo told foreign dignitaries and delegates attending the conference on autism sponsored by Autism Speaks.
Headed by Ban Soon-taek, the wife of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the international forum was sponsored by the United Nations and autism research and advocacy group Autism Speaks.
The conference was attended by many First Spouses and some of the leading authorities in the emerging global efforts to fight autism.
It was moderated by popular American television talk show star Meredith Vieira, co-host of NBC’s Today show.
Besides the donation to the research center, Mr. Arroyo said that the FGFI would also donate $20,000 or P1 million to San Francisco-based Autism Hearts Foundation, which will lead the first International Autism Conference at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila on February 3 to 5, 2010.
Mike’s invitation
He invited UN officials, spouses of heads of states and various international organizations to participate in the February conference on autism that according to him will showcase the launching of Autism Institute of Asia, a newest research and development and specialized training center on autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
“With this center, we hope to achieve milestones on research for early detection and appropriate interventions [on autism],” Arroyo said in brief remarks that also included a short audio visual presentation on the Philippines’ efforts to deal with autism as a serious public-health problem.
Among those who indicated their attendance in the Manila conference include Ban Soon-taek and Bob and Suzanne Wright, the founders of Autism Speaks.
Citing Philippine General Hospital data, Mike Arroyo said that developmental disorders—autism, mental retardation and cerebral palsy—have become the fourth leading cause of pediatric morbidity at the government-run hospital from 2000 to 2008.
The UN chief’s wife, meanwhile, underscored the urgent need for global cooperation to deal with autism, a serious disorder that afflicts an estimated 67 million people globally.
Raising funds
During the conference, which drew one of the biggest gatherings ever of First Spouses, Autism Speaks founder Suzanne Wright unveiled the “Decade for Autism” initiative aimed at raising $100 million in 10 years to fund autism research, awareness campaigns and support services for families in their countries.
“We must do all we can to confront the challenges that autism poses on families and society as a whole,” Wright said in an emotional appeal. “We must not stop until one day we can collectively solve the mystery of autism.”
During a brief interview after her speech, she commended the Philippines for its “remarkable” efforts in the growing campaign to raise the people’s awareness about autism that leads to early detection of the disease and, consequently, to better treatment.
Wright cited the efforts of Qatar, through the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, which is investing $9.8 million in research and treatment of autism on the initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah, the center’s patron.
Awareness campaign
During the same forum, Oscar-nominated director Alfonso Cuaron and Grammy-nominated songwriter-producer Billy Mann unveiled a moving video they created intended to generate public awareness and support to the fight against autism. The families of the two famous artists both deal with the challenge of having a son afflicted with autism.
The video I Am Autism, is a shockingly powerful short film that combines footage of individuals with autism from around the world and their families with a poem written by Mann and read by a multitude of voices to show the global face of autism.
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationship, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges to those afflicted and their families.
Autism spectrum disorders, or ASDs are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, and an estimated 67 million globally.
The prevalence of autism, which afflicts four times as many boys as girls, has increased tenfold in the last decade, according to Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism research and advocacy organization.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described autism as a national public-health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by spouses Bob and Suzanne Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is a senior adviser at Lee Equity Partners and served as vice chairman of General Electric and CEO of NBC and NBC Universal for more than 20 years. Suzanne Wright has an extensive history of active involvement in community and philanthropic work mostly directed toward helping children.
Since its inception, Autism Speaks has funded researches into the causes, prevention and treatment of autism and is actively involved in information campaign to increase international awareness on autism.
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