CHR: Provide more opportunities for Filipinos with autism

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called on the public and private sectors to provide more opportunities for Filipinos with autism spectrum disorder on Tuesday, World Autism Awareness Day.

In a Twitter post, CHR said opportunities in terms of education, jobs, and medical attention would give the neurodiverse community a chance to pursue better lives.

“Umaasa rin kami na mabigyan ng oportunidad gaya ng edukasyon, trabaho, sapat na medical na atensyon, at iba’t ibang programa sa mga neurodiverse population para mas mapaunlad ng mga kababayan nating may autism ang kanilang mga sarili,” CHR asked.

(We are hoping that our neurodiverse population would be given more opportunities like education, jobs, medical attention, and other programs so they can improve their lives.)

The member-states of the United Nations (UN) observe World Autism Awareness Day on April 1. But in the Philippines, Autism Consciousness Week is celebrated every third week of January.

CHR data shows that around 1.2 million or one in every 100 Filipinos have autism. In more advanced countries with better autism detection programs like the United States , autism prevalence among children is at one in every 58.

Data from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places the average number of people with autism at 1 to 2 percent of the world’s total population.

“Mainam na magkaroon ng kamalayan ang publiko ng sapat na kaalaman ukol sa autism upang mas responsive at naaayong pagtugon ang maibibigay natin sa mga taong nakararanas ng autism,” the agency explained.

(It is important to boost the public’s awareness about autism so we can be more responsive to  their needs)

Just recently, the Autism Society Philippines condemned netizens involved in a viral challenge called “The Boyet Challenge,” where social media users imitate the character of Boyet from GMA-7’s telenovela “My Special Tatay.”

The CHR said it is a thinly veiled instrument of ridicule for those who live with autism and intellectual disabilities.

READ:Philippine autism group condemns ‘The Boyet Challenge’ 

That agency hopes that any action taken by both the public and private sectors on this matter would not end after the commemoration of the World Autism Awareness Day.

“Panawagan ng Komisyon at ng iba pang sektor na nangunguna rito na igalang ang karapatan nila, at maging accommodating sa kanila (The CHR is calling on people to respect people with autism),” the CHR said. /ee