Saima stresses combined efforts for mainstreaming autistics

Chairperson of National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh and daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saima Wazed Hossain has laid stress on combined efforts of all to mainstream the people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

"Combined efforts and positive attitude of the people are essential to make the people with ASD as the precious assets of the country to help them flourishing their latent talents and mainstreaming them," a press release quoted her as saying while inaugurating an exhibition at United Nations Headquarters in New York of the United States on Thursday.

She said her organisation 'Shuchona Foundation', a non-profit advocacy, research and capacity-building organization specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and mental health, has been working for persons with NDDs by developing innovative, low-cost, sustainable programs through public and private partnerships.

The programme was organised to mark the World Autism Day which was observed on April 2 across the globe.

Earlier, Saima, a US-licensed autism and clinical psychology specialist, took part in a panel discussion titled, 'Empowering Women and Girls with Autism' at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber at headquarters organised by UN.

Saima, also a member of World Health Organization's (WHO) expert advisory panel on mental health focused on the challenges of women with ASD and discussed about the essential steps to overcome the barriers at an event titled, 'Ableism, Sexism, Racism...How they Intersect'.

Source: bss