Walk in Fernando de Noronha asks for support for mothers with autistic children | Living Noronha

This Tuesday (2), World Autism Awareness Day, mothers, relatives, friends and district councilors gathered in front of the Centro Integrado Bem-Me-Quer, in Fernando de Noronha. The place was the starting point for participating in the ‘1st Walk of Mothers in Action for the Rights of their Children’.

Housewife Patrícia Morais has a 7-year-old son with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She was one of the organizers of the event to attract attention from the community.

“This movement aims to draw attention so that people become aware and learn what autism is and many other aspects. We also want help from the government to have more support professionals for therapy”, said the organizer of the walk.

Patrícia Morais leads a group of mothers of autistic people on the island. According to her, Noronha has more than 30 people with ASD, including children with this condition.

Salesperson Natália Melo has a 3-year-old son with autism and also participated in the event. “I would like the competent bodies to provide more support. My son doesn’t speak and can’t receive speech therapy because the hospital doesn’t have professionals to provide this service”, said Natália.

Administrative assistant Juliana Barbosa also has a 5-year-old son with ASD. She participated in the walk in search of shelter.

“We need reception in the speech department and support professionals because the children need this help. Furthermore, there is still prejudice, including from mothers who do not accept their autistic children. This hurts because the child doesn’t progress”, declared Juliana.

With posters, the walk participants walked along BR-363. They were accompanied by military personnel from the PM and Fire Department who helped organize traffic. The group went to the Family Health Center (PSF).

District councilors were at the event and promised to seek collaboration for mothers of autistic people.

“It is an extremely important event for Noronha, we need to pursue the cause to help children with this diagnosis. It is a commitment from the District Council to demand that the Island Administration and the state government bring professionals to help the children of Fernando de Noronha who need this help”, said the president of the District Council, Ailton Araújo Júnior.

g1 contacted the Noronha Administration to find out if the problem of the lack of support professionals has a solution, but, until the publication of this article, they had not received a response.