Participants in the 2015 Walk for Autism at the Tanjung Aru Perdana Park.
KOTA KINABALU: People with autism will be honoured in a special walk that will be flagged off simultaneously in four districts across Sabah on April 2.
Residents here, Sandakan, Tawau and Kota Marudu can take part in the “Walk for Autism” which aims to promote better understanding and acceptance of autism at 4pm that day.
Organising chairperson Jacqueline Lingham in a statement said the event would be flagged off at the Tanjung Aru Perdana Park here, Sandakan Sports Complex, Padang Bandaran Tawau and Padang Pekan in Kota Marudu.
“Complimentary packs will be given to people with autism,” she said, adding the event would be held for the third consecutive year in honour of those with autism as well as their families in conjunction with the World Autism Awareness Month.
Themed “Acceptance – We Are No Different” the event is being organised by Persatuan CHILD Sabah (Caring and Helping Individuals Learn and Develop).
Lingham said, here, the highlight would be the Cosplayer Award where enthusiasts had been invited to help create awareness among the younger generation about autism.
“The younger generations have always been our target group in helping us realise our objective to bring awareness and acceptance into the future society.”
Autism is a life-long developmental disability that prevents individuals from properly understanding what they see, hear and otherwise sense.
It is a neuro-biological disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the environment.
Awareness programs such as the walk serves not only to create awareness and understanding among the public but helps promote the fact that individuals with autism are part of society and must be accepted.