Raising awareness of autism spectrum disorder in the municipality of Vila Real

The Municipality of Vila Real joined, once again, in the celebrations of World Autism Awareness Day, with a set of activities promoted in conjunction with the Ombudsman for Citizens with Disabilities or Disabilities and the collaboration of Nosso Shopping and the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism of Vila Real (APPDA).

The blue lighting of the City Hall building and the Nosso Shopping Shopping Center, in a demonstration of support for the International “Light It Up Blue” Movement, was the initiative that marked the beginning of a month dedicated to raising awareness, disseminating and demystifying the Autism.

The “Quiet Hour – less stimuli, more inclusion” initiative, promoted every Saturday in April, between 10am and 11am, by Nosso Shopping, which, from April onwards, also began offering noise-dampening headphones for use by children/ people with autism or any type of auditory hypersensitivity, and an “Adapted Cinema Session”, in a room prepared for the target audience, with an animated film for children with autism/disabilities and companion, were some of the activities developed throughout the month of April, including the “Autism Awareness, Dissemination and Awareness Action” promoted by APPDA of Vila Real, which was present in that commercial space for two days, with an information stand.

On Avenida Carvalho Araújo, in front of the Paços do Concelho Building, on April 10, there was also an action to raise awareness, disseminate and demystify autism with communications from the Councilor for Social Action and Equality, Mara Minhava, from the Ombudsman of Citizens with Disabilities or Disabilities, Márcio Martins, and the President of APPDA of Vila Real, Mário Rodrigues, followed by the release of blue balloons, which had a good turnout, particularly from professionals, users and students from Associations and Schools in the municipality .

The Councilor for Social Action and Equality, Mara Minhava, “highlights that autism affects thousands of people in Portugal and the Municipality of Vila Real could not fail to mark World Autism Awareness Day, organizing and being a partner in various activities and initiatives that served to raise awareness, awareness and promote understanding for autism.”

For the Ombudsman for Citizens with Disabilities or Disabilities of the Municipality of Vila Real, Márcio Martins, “it was with great pleasure that I contemplated and contributed to the union and coordination between the Municipality of Vila Real, Associations and Private Entities for the various initiatives that made it possible to bring Some of the difficulties faced by people with autism and experiences unique to these people, as well as inclusive activities, are on the agenda. It was very gratifying to feel the happiness of some people in certain initiatives and to realize that the entities are available to make the Municipality even more inclusive, fair and supportive in the future”.