Dear Editor,
Last week Saturday, Emancipation Park was transformed into a beautiful celebration dedicated to those with autism. As the principal of Genesis Academy, a school that caters to young persons with special needs, I was overjoyed to witness the growth and confidence in the children who put on such a great show.
Still, it would have been even more awesome if more members of the general public had been present to learn about autism, as it impacts so many persons and families in our society. There are parents who cannot identify autism in their children because they are not aware of the signs, which are numerous and wide-ranging. The public must become involved in initiatives such as this that seek to promote awareness and create a healthy, uplifting environment for autistic children to grow and flourish.
We need to promote a greater understanding of what autism is about so that affected children can be identified early and receive the necessary intervention. We also become more caring and empathetic when we can view the world through the eyes of an autistic child. We were so moved by our young adult, Nicole Rochester, who spoke to the pain of just "being different". This is, of course, why the Digicel Foundation should be applauded for its support of initiatives such as these. The Foundation partnered with the Jamaica Autism Support Association to put on the concert, and we know they have been making a sustained effort to assist the general special needs community.
I urge everyone to continue to spread the word, not just now while it is Autism Awareness Month, but throughout the year.
Donna Lowe
Principal, Genesis Academy
principal.genesis@gmail.com
Autism more than 'being different'
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Last week Saturday, Emancipation Park was transformed into a beautiful celebration dedicated to those with autism. As the principal of Genesis Academy, a school that caters to young persons with special needs, I was overjoyed to witness the growth and confidence in the children who put on such a great show.
Still, it would have been even more awesome if more members of the general public had been present to learn about autism, as it impacts so many persons and families in our society. There are parents who cannot identify autism in their children because they are not aware of the signs, which are numerous and wide-ranging. The public must become involved in initiatives such as this that seek to promote awareness and create a healthy, uplifting environment for autistic children to grow and flourish.
We need to promote a greater understanding of what autism is about so that affected children can be identified early and receive the necessary intervention. We also become more caring and empathetic when we can view the world through the eyes of an autistic child. We were so moved by our young adult, Nicole Rochester, who spoke to the pain of just "being different". This is, of course, why the Digicel Foundation should be applauded for its support of initiatives such as these. The Foundation partnered with the Jamaica Autism Support Association to put on the concert, and we know they have been making a sustained effort to assist the general special needs community.
I urge everyone to continue to spread the word, not just now while it is Autism Awareness Month, but throughout the year.
Donna Lowe
Principal, Genesis Academy
principal.genesis@gmail.com
Autism more than 'being different'
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