The waiting time for the first consultation at the local government’s Children’s Comprehensive Evaluation Centre and Paediatric Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre has been shortened to 4 weeks on average, Macau Autism Association (MAA) Chairwoman Sun Choi Man said yesterday.
The Health Bureau (SSM), Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) and Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) jointly established the Children’s Comprehensive Evaluation Centre in 2016, targeting children aged six or below with suspected developmental disorders such as developmental disabilities or delays, mental disorders, sensory disorders or disabilities including hearing and visual impairments, physical disorders, myopathy and cerebral palsy, autistic spectrum disorder, language development disorders, developmental coordination disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, and emotional and behavioural disorders, among other developmental disorders.
Sun made the remarks yesterday during the opening ceremony for an exhibition of art works at the Macau Science Centre (MSC), adding that the number of new members registered in the association so far this year has increased by 40 to 216, with the youngest person whose parents sought help being two years old.
Sun said this showed that many parents have taken the initiative to seek help from the association and professional organisations, and that civil society has become more aware of the problem of autism in children.
Suen suggested that the government should refer to neighbouring regions and the mainland, which focus on the diversified development of autistic people’s potential in the arts, as the scope of jobs or training courses offered by tourism and leisure enterprises to autistic people is relatively narrow, as they were inclined to offer people with autism simple jobs such as cleaning and clerical work.
April 2 is the World Autism Awareness Day designated by the United Nations. Sun said that the association organised a series of activities yesterday to enable the public to learn more about autistic persons, adding that the association organised more than 70 activities last year, with over 3,000 people participating.
The association’s art exhibition for this year’s World Autism Awareness Day is on display until April 14 on the ground floor at MSC. The artworks were created by autistic children.
A kid and a woman look at artworks created by autistic children displayed at an exhibition at the Macau Science Centre (MSC) in Nape yesterday. – Photo courtesy of TDM
