The World Autism Awareness Day will be observed in Bangladesh on Saturday with a pledge to bring the people suffering from autism and other physical disabilities into the mainstream of development. The theme of this year's day is: ‘Make such a world: explore the talents of people with autism’. The United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the needs for enhanced initiatives of all to improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder. Read: Mild Autism: How to identify a child who is slightly autistic? The Ministry of Social Welfare will organise a programme at the capital’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the morning on this occasion, according to a notification of the ministry issued on Thursday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to join the programme virtually. This year, the day will be celebrated across the country through colorful programmes. Special supplements will be published in daily newspapers on this occasion. In honor of people with autism, the Ministry of Social Welfare and its affiliated departments, various institutions and important government buildings will be decorated with blue lights. In addition, road-branding, special memorabilia and leaflets have been printed to create awareness about autism. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing the overall success of all the programmes taken on the occasion of the 15th World Autism Awareness Day. In his message, Hamid said People with autism are not a burden to society and it is possible to turn them into skilled human resources through proper education, training, guidance and inspiration. “In order to build a prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’, everyone has to work hard for the children and individuals who are at risk of Autism,” he said. Read: Autism: Saima shares Bangladesh's good practices with global community Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the government has already provided many services both using technology and in-person for the welfare of people with autism such as forming the Neuro-Developmental Disability (NDD) Protection Trust. Two applications called 'Bolte Chai' and 'Autism Barta' have been created to provide assistance to autistic people, she added. The prime minister hoped that children and adolescents with autism will be grown up through the right care, education, training, and affection, so that they could be an asset to the family, society, and the state.

Autism expert and Shuchona Foundation Chair Saima Wazed Hossain Friday announced the publication of "Pracheer Periye," the Bangla translation of Dr Stephen Shore's book "Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome." She made the announcement in a video posted by the Shuchona Foundation on its Facebook page on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day 2021 that falls on April 2. Saima is a licenced school psychologist, an advisor to the director-general of WHO on mental health and autism. Also read: Researchers 'successfully test' drug for children with autism "It is a newly translated book. I hope you all will read it," Saima, granddaughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said. The book vividly brings out the myriad of challenges faced by Dr Shore as a person "on the spectrum." Shuchona Foundation will make fresh announcements shortly on the availability of "Pracheer Periye" in selective outlets. Acknowledging that not the two persons on the spectrum are the same, the book is helpful and gives an understanding of the life of a person with ASD. Dr Shore is a renowned self-advocate who was diagnosed with autism as a child. His autobiographical account gives a rare, detailed, and warm insight into the life of someone with Asperger syndrome. Also read: 50,500 children with autism in country: Zahid Maleque Shuchona Foundation hoped that "Pracheer Periye" will help further this understanding among Bengali readers at home and abroad. It will enable Bengali readers to get a glimpse of the inspiration and energy reflected in "Beyond the Wall," empowering readers to face their challenges without fear and compromise, the foundation said. "The book is a must-read for those who want to understand what it takes to fit in a complex, fast-paced, complicated world."