our hearts must illuminate our humanity
TRANSCRIPT
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P.O. Box 3429,Maraval, Port of Spain,Trinidad and Tobago.Cell# (868) 325-2656 / (868) 308 8649Email: [email protected]
Date: Sunday, May 01, 2011
‘Our Hearts Must Illuminate Our
Humanity’
An 800 Word Article
By
Mark Hernandez
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FIRST TRINIDADIAN SERIAL RIGHTS PERSONAL PHOTOATTACHED
Inspiring 1
P.O. Box 3429,
Maraval, Port of Spain,Trinidad and Tobago.Cell (868) 325-2656 / 308 8649Email: [email protected]
Date: Sunday, May 01, 2011
‘Our Hearts Must Illuminate Our Humanity’
By
Mark Hernandez.
April was designated by the United Nations
General Assembly as World Autism Awareness
Month. Saturday 2nd April was declared Autism
Awareness Day (WAAD).
Its aim has been to raise interest of and
promote this hidden disability which affects
millions of children and adults worldwide.
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The recent campaign by the Autistic Society of
Trinidad and Tobago (ASTT) has highlighted
the importance of realizing this complex
disorder of the human brain.
Their activities included a family day on the
2nd April, 2011 followed by a children’s event
recently on Saturday 16th April.
A grand walkathon occurred on the 30 th April
at the Queen’s Park Savannah. It started at 3
pm to highlight Autism Awareness month and
bring attention to this disability.
The Association also partnered with one of
their corporate sponsors, Republic Bank. They
had booths in Trincity and Long Circular
Malls respectively selling jerseys and other
items promoting their campaign.
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The team led by their President, Teresina
Sieunarine are doing a great job with limited
funding and resources to improve the quality
of life of people with Autism in Trinidad and
Tobago.
It’s a pity their efforts are continually going
unrewarded and unnoticed.
I have had the pleasure of joining the group
this year being a member and part time
volunteer. It was one of my personal goals of
being a entrepreneur, writer and giving back
to the society.
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They assisted me in diagnosing what I had, a
mild form of autism called ‘Asperger
Syndrome’. It was not an easy situation to
come to terms with or accept at first.
Throughout my existence, I had to overcome
many problems and challenges in life. I had
always suspected that there was something
different and unique about me which could not
be pinpointed.
My childhood days growing up was not the
sweetest experience to remember. Despite
possessing great intelligence and knowledge, I
still had some learning difficulties that
impacted my school and work life.
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I was also at a early age a victim of
psychological abuse from family, relatives and
strangers and subjected to teasing from
schoolmates which got me constantly engaged
in fights.
However, in spite of this I always believe
these experience both positive and negative
have shaped the man I am today. I am quite
proud of what I have been able to accomplish
both professionally and personally.
Asperger Syndrome, as I had mentioned is a
mild form of autism. It is a spectrum disorder
characterized by problems with
communication, social interaction and unusual
repetitive behaviours.
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Behaviours may range from mild to severe.
An individual with Aspergers’ are sometimes
described as ‘high functioning’ and if any may
probably experience delays in speaking.
They would possess normal intelligence and
have no language problems typical of autism.
In addition persons may have strong grammar
and verbal skills.
The challenge lies in that they are seen as
too literal and having difficulty understanding
non verbal cues such as body language and
other people’s emotions.
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Other symptoms include clumsy movements,
obsessive or repetitive routines and schedules
and sensitivity to sensory information such as
sound, light or taste.
It was first discovered in the 1940’s by a
Viennese pediatrician named Hans Asperger.
In conducting his test on his patients,
(mostly males) he described a set of
behaviourial patterns in the boys as showing
normal intelligence and language development
but having serious impaired social and
communications skills with poor coordination.
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The most distinctive characteristic of
Aspergers’ is a child’s obsessive interest in
an object or topic. To the untrained eye, they
seem normal but just behaving differently.
People with this condition are capable of
coping with daily activities in life but have a
tendency to be socially awkward and
immature. They may be seen by others as
being odd or eccentric.
There is a lot more information on this
disability which can be obtained from the
Autistic Society of Trinidad and Tobago, on
their website: www.autismtt.org
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They are helpful and wonderful full time
volunteers who are more than happy to assist
and provide information.
Their contact number is: 646-5506. The
Association can also be contacted via email
which is: [email protected] or at
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What is sad and very disturbing is that there
is no government support or funding. Our
President has held many meetings with many
government officials the results as usual
being all talk and no action.
Republic Bank Limited and the National
Petroleum Marketing Company of Trinidad and
Tobago have been leading the corporate
sector so far. But we need more companies
to get on board.
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Let us citizens embrace children, young
persons and adults who may have various
forms of Autism.
They have a right to receive all the love,
support and treatment necessary to sustain
their existence and make a positive
contribution to society.
We have no right to discriminate, stigmatize
or ridicule.
They are many persons out there, occupying
various professional and social levels who
may have this disorder and may not realize it.
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Our attitude needs to change so that our
country can make that journey amongst
nations in giving a voice to millions of
persons who are undiagnosed, misunderstood
and looking to us for help.
END
©MARK HERNANDEZ 2011
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