Car rally to create mass awareness about autism
The Association of Parents and Teachers of Autistic Children (Aptac) organises a car rally in the city yesterday to create mass awareness about autism.Photo: STAR
The Association of Parents and Teachers of Autistic Children (Aptac) yesterday organised a car rally in the city in a bid to create mass awareness about autism.
At least 20 cars joined the rally from the National Museum premises at Shahbagh in the morning that paraded different city streets and ended at Central Shaheed Minar at noon.
A number of autistic children, their parents and teachers participated in the rally with colourful festoons and banners under the scorching heat of the sun.
Director General of Foreign Ministry Mosud Mannan addressed the programme as chief guest while Chairperson of the car rally Jannatul Koly and Aptac General Secretary Ruhul Islam Tipu also took part in the function.
Mosud Mannan in his speech stressed on the integration of autistic children into mainstream education system and said the government and non-government institutions should come forward in this regard.
Ruhul Islam said there is no law in favour of autism in the country. So, a law should be formulated immediately to preserve rights of the community.
He, however, said every autistic child has the right to take admission into all normal educational institutions in the country.
"Statistics show that four out of 1,000 children are autistics and the number is increasing day by day which is really an alarming news for us. So, we need expert teachers and institutions in the country", he added.
Web sources said autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication and causes restricted and repetitive behaviour, all starting before a child is three years old.
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