KLANG, April 3 — The community at large should play a role by supporting and better understanding special-needs children, particularly autistic individuals, to create a harmonious atmosphere.
State executive councillor for public health Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said some still blame the parents for supposedly failing to educate their children in being well-mannered when out of the home.
"Autistic persons did not ask to be born with such a condition, and to the present, we still do not understand what its underlying cause is.
"By marking World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), we can only hope society as a whole will be able to learn to understand the challenges these children face and can be sensitive to their presence rather than simply scorning them," she said.
Dr Siti Mariah was speaking after officiating the WAAD celebrations for the state level, at the KPJ Klang Specialist Hospital yesterday.
The event also saw the launch of the book Setengah Dekad: Lima Tahun Anak Istimewa Selangor (ANiS), and a special song for disabled persons in the state, composed by music producer Affan Mazlan.
The councillor said the 32-page book goes into detail about the state government's initiatives for special-needs children, over one term.
"We have carried out various benefits to help ease the burden of families in caring for their special-needs children.
"This book will be placed at Pusat Prasekolah AnIS in Section 7, Shah Alam, as well as in state government administrative offices and state government departments," she said.
[caption id="attachment_307462" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
State executive councillor for public health Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (centre) with participants of the World Autism Awareness Day celebrations for the state level, at the KPJ Klang Specialist Hospital in Klang, on April 2, 2023. — Picture by HAFIZ OTHMAN/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
