Saima to address high-level event on autism in NY

Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh Saima Wazed Hossain will address a high-level event on autism here tomorrow as the United Nations (UN) has arranged daylong programs in observance of the World Autism Awareness Day.

 

Saima, a renowned school psychologist, has been invited at the UN programs in observance of the World Autism Awareness Day every year since 2012 as an international autism expert, reports the BSS.

 

The high-level event on "Addressing Autism: Strategies for the Global Community in Relation to the Sustainable Development Goals" will begin at the UN headquarters at 3 pm (New York time).

 

Saima will address the event as the main speaker, while Mrs Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general's wife, and representatives of various international organizations will be present in it.

 

Jointly co-sponsored by Bangladesh, India, Qatar, South Korea and the United States Missions and "Autism Speaks", a New York-based Autism Advocacy Organization, the event will focus on the ways and means to mainstreaming autistic persons across the world to ensure inclusive implementation of the SDGs.

 

The possible ways to ensure equitable education, health and wellness of autistic persons will get emphasis in the three-hour brainstorming session.

 

The daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a member of World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Advisory Panel on Mental Health, Saima will also join the opening session of the UN programs that will start at 10 am (New York time).

 

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Under Secretary General for Communication and Public Information Cristina Gallach, UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft, representatives of the UN member countries and various international organizations will attend the inaugural session.

 

Saima will be a panelist at one of the five issues titled "Reduce Inequality (Goal10 of SDGs)" to be discussed during the morning session.

 

The other four issues are Inclusive Education; Follow-up to Secretary General's 2015 call to Action (Goal8 of SDGs), Accessible Communities (Goal11) and Partnerships for Change (Goal17).

 

The main aim of the event is to define the most "effective practices" and measures to be taken to empower individuals and families affected by autism and other developmental disorders to achieve the SDGs goals meaningfully.

 

Both the events will be broadcast live on the UN Web TV.

 

Saima has won acclaim for her steadfast commitment to create autism awareness globally.

 

She received WHO Excellence Award in 2014 for her work on autism at national, regional and global level to ensure that there should be a national policy and commitment to those with autism and to put autism on the UN agency's map.

 

In Bangladesh, she started a countrywide autism awareness campaign in 2010 which includes early detection of autism and extends services to the autistic children and their families.

 

US Autism Society statistics say, about 1 percent of the world population has autism spectrum disorder and in the US, it is estimated at 1 in 68 births.

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since her assumption of office in 2009 has been putting emphasis on mainstreaming the physically and mentally challenged population including autistic for ensuring inclusive socioeconomic growth of the country.

 

To this end, the government has been implementing a five-year program to build autism awareness, social inclusiveness, education and training for them, and research.

 

The government has passed the Protection of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2013. A trust fund has also been formed to help the persons with "neuro-disability".

 

The National Advisory Committee on Autism has been overseeing the proper implementation of the government programs and initiatives.

 

Saima is also the architect of South Asian Autism Network that brought the regional countries together to address the growing challenge of autism.

 

Due to her initiatives, Bangladesh hosted the first-ever international conference on autism in Dhaka in 2011.