Thursday, March 28, 2024

Autism Awareness Workshop

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Names of the volunteers from left to right are- Maci Spica, Crystal Hansen, Elizabeth Kleine and Reyna Sigurdson.

A group of autism specialists from the United States of America are in Belize to educate people on the proper identification, understanding and support of children with Autism. On Thursday, November 28th the team will be offering an educational workshop at the SunBreeze Hotel from 9AM to 4PM for individuals that have children or a sibling with Autism. The workshop will be open to teachers, parents, social workers and anyone who is interested in learning about and breaking the stigma of autism.
The workshop is part of an initiative from Knowledge for People, Autism Education Around the World. The group’s goal is to give individuals and communities a greater understanding of autism through outreach, education, and support. Knowledge for People volunteers are in Belize from November 21st through November 30th, with the aim of creating and maintaining a long-term commitment and partnership in Belize for autism education.
Autism is a brain development disorder which is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Although many may believe that autism determines the quality life for those suffering from the disorder, it is not so. Early detection before the age of three can help a child live a normal and successful life without social impediments. Autism symptoms are still a widely debated topic, but most common symptoms include: no big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter, no back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by nine months, no babbling by 12 months, no interactive gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months, no words by 16 months, no meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months, and any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age.
Those interested in learning more about autism are invited to attend the workshop, after which a question and answer segment will be held. Space is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to register via email at [email protected]. To learn more about the group visit www.knowledgeforpeople.com.

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