Last week Saturday, Emancipation Park was transformed into a beautiful
celebration dedicated to those with autism. As the principal of Genesis
Academy, a school that caters to young persons with special needs, I
was overjoyed to witness the growth and confidence in the children who
put on such a great show.
Still, it would have been even more awesome if more members of the
general public had been present to learn about autism, as it impacts so
many persons and families in our society. There are parents who cannot
identify autism in their children because they are not aware of the
signs, which are numerous and wide-ranging. The public must become
involved in initiatives such as this that seek to promote awareness and
create a healthy, uplifting environment for autistic children to grow
and flourish.
We need to promote a greater understanding of what autism is about so
that affected children can be identified early and receive the necessary
intervention. We also become more caring and empathetic when we can
view the world through the eyes of an autistic child. We were so moved
by our young adult, Nicole Rochester, who spoke to the pain of just
"being different". This is, of course, why the
Digicel Foundation should
be applauded for its support of initiatives such as these. The
Foundation partnered with the Jamaica Autism Support Association to put
on the concert, and we know they have been making a sustained effort to
assist the general special needs community.
I urge everyone to continue to spread the word, not just now while it is Autism Awareness Month, but throughout the year.
Donna Lowe
Principal, Genesis Academy
principal.genesis@gmail.com