AAN Side Event for ESCAP's High-level Inter-Governmental Meeting

The Autism Society Philippines joined the ASEAN Autism Network panel discussion regarding “Opportunities, Challenges and Direction of AAN” last October 21, 2022 in Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta. The hybrid panel discussion is a a side event to the ESCAP's High-level Inter-Governmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2013-2022.

The APCD officer Somchai Ringsilp and AAN Secretariat Head Candy Hernandez.
Photo credit: Aiko Akiyama and Candy Hernandez

ASP Chair Emerita as a panelist. Photo credit: Aiko Akiyama and Candy Hernandez

ASP Chair Emerita Dang Koe shared her journey from being a mother to leading the Autism Society Philippines and then the AAN, which all catapulted her to receiving the inaugural ASEAN Prize in 2018. The recognition and the ASEAN accreditation of AAN as an ASEAN civil society partner organization helped raise awareness among high-level government officials from Asia-Pacific about the promotion of the quality of life of individuals with developmental disorders, including those on the autism spectrum.

The ASEAN Prize video of Dang Koe as inaugural recipient was shown during the side event.
Photo credit: Aiko Akiyama and Candy Hernandez

Panelists from other AAN members joined Dang and shared best practices on autism advocacy in their respective countries: incumbent AAN Chair Cason Ong of National Autism Society of Malaysia, Dr Adriana Ginanjar of Yayasan Autisma Indonesia and Somchai Rungsilp of the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability.

The UNESCAP focal point person Aiko Akiyama (in brown) and Founder and CEO of London School, Jakarta, Indonesia LSPR Prita Kemal Gani (in blue and green) join the AAN Secretariat. Photo credit: Aiko Akiyama and Candy Hernandez

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Autism Angels Take Flight Again!

The Cebu Pacific has long been a partner of the Autism Society Philippines in creating autism-friendly spaces. Before the pandemic, CebPac invited ASP members’ children on the spectrum to experience being inside an aircraft and how it feels to be a passenger.

Autism Angels Take Flight Poster

On November 21, in celebration of the Children’s Day 2022, Cebu Pacific is inviting again the ASP community for an AUdventure inside one of their aircrafts. The ASP AUdventure is a nation-wide initiative for children/youth on the spectrum to explore new experiences, visit new places for their enrichment and advocate for inclusion and more autism-friendly spaces.

Who can join
• Interested members may sign up for this event (priority is given to regular members of regular chapters) via the online form below. The submission deadline is Nov. 12, 2022.
• One (1) child/youth on the spectrum and one companion per family.
• The ASP Secretariat will confirm the booking via text/call. As we only have 50x2 slots available, we would like to share the opportunity across as many chapters as possible.
• For cancellations, please communicate at least 48 hours ahead, as a courtesy and to give others the chance.

What to prepare
• Wear an ASP Angels Walk Shirt or green shirt and a medical-grade face mask.
• Optional: Bring an extra shirt, face towel.

Health Protocols
• Bring your vaccination cards (we follow CebPac protocols).
• Do not come with fever, cough, cold, or diarrhea.
• Observe proper social distancing.

How to get there
• Participants must be responsible for their transportation.
• Participants are expected to be at the APlus Hangar beside Cebu Pacific Office, Domestic Road, Pasay City at 1:00PM.

What to expect
• When you get to the venue, look for the ASP banner or Cenin Faderogao, who is managing the event.
• Chapter leaders are expected to manage their group/members, especially during the waiting time.
• No assurance that latecomers can be accommodated.
• The tour will be done while the aircraft is parked; it will not be flying out.
• There will be a zoom orientation for participants before the event. Please wait for announcement once you have been selected as participants.

PROGRAM
1:00PM to 4:00PM
- Registration
- Welcome Program
- Tour
- Snacks
- End of Tour/Event

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Zoo AUdventure

The City of Manila is the Autism Society Philippines’ new partner in advocating for inclusion and creating autism-friendly spaces. The City will open the newly-renovated Manila Zoo on November 12, 2022 to welcome children/youth on the autism spectrum.

The Zoo AUdventure Poster

Who can join
• Interested members may sign up for this event (exclusive to active members) via the online form below. The submission deadline is November 7, at noon.
• One (1) child/youth on the spectrum and one companion per family.
• The ASP Secretariat will confirm the booking via text/call.
• As we only have 50x2 slots available, we would like to share the opportunity across as many chapters as possible.
• For cancellations, please communicate at least 48 hours ahead, as a courtesy and to allow another member to benefit from the vacated slot.

What to prepare
• Wear an ASP Angels Walk Shirt or green shirt and a medical-grade face mask.
• Expect to be exposed to the sun and no air conditioning.
• Bring an extra shirt, face towel, cap, or umbrella.
• Food and water for your own consumption.

Health Protocols
• Bring your vaccination cards (we will follow Manila Zoo’s protocol).
• Do not come with fever, cough, cold, or diarrhea.
• Observe proper social distancing.

How to get there
• Participants must be responsible for their transportation.
• Participants are expected to be at the Assembly Point (to be announced later) by 8:30am.

What to expect
• When you get to the venue, look for the ASP banner or Cenin Faderogao, who is managing the event.
• Chapter leaders/family heads are expected to manage their group/members, especially during the waiting time.
• No assurance that latecomers can be accommodated.
• There will be an online pre-event orientation for all participants to clarify mechanics.

Schedule:

November 9 - Pre-event orientation for participants; time and zoom link to be sent later.

November 12
0830H Assembly and registration
- Venue to be confirmed on November 9

0900H Arrival in Manila Zoo
- Guided tour starts

1100H End of event
- Participants can stay longer inside the zoo, on their own.

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Inclusive Tourism for Travelers on the Autism Spectrum

Autism Society Philippines’ Chair Emerita Dang Koe talked about inclusive tourism for travelers on the autism spectrum during the World Tourism Day 2022 Conference. Said conference was held last September 29, at the Manila Hotel, Manila, Philippines.

ASP Chair Emerita shared during the conference how families prepare
their children on the spectrum before traveling to address the autism challenges. Photo credit: DOT

Dang shared with participants from tourism associations and various academic institutions the challenges of families traveling with their loved ones on the spectrum. She summed up into two main points the ASP’s recommendations for happy tourists on the spectrum: establishments and their well-trained staff who accept and accommodate the needs of their guests on the spectrum, and accessible information available for the family before and during the tour destinations.

Aside from travelers on the autism spectrum, the panel discussion on Inclusive Tourism included
presentations for travelers with physical disabilities and DOT's Barrier-Free Tourism program. Photo credit: DOT

The Department of Tourism (DOT), through the Office of Tourism Development Planning, Research and Information Management (OTDPRIM), hosted the hybrid WTD 2022 Conference which featured a variety of local and international multi-stakeholder speakers and industry experts. Discussions were focused on "Rethinking Tourism as a Key Element of Recovery".

Tourism associations and various academic institutions, including faculty members
and students attended the conference onsite, while others were online. Photo credit: DOT

DOT OIC-Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso represented
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco during the conference. Photo credit: DOT

DOT also partners regularly with the ASP in their ongoing sensitivity training for Barrier-Free Tourism. Since 2021, 16 batches of tourism frontliners from DOT National, NCR, Regions 1,2, 6 and 10 have participated in ASP’s Autism Sensitivity and Response Training. Another 5 batches from DOT NCR are scheduled from the end of October to early November.

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Ang Natatanging karanasan ni Ate Phen

Paano nga ba nahilig ang isang batang may autismo sa pag-boboses, gayong ang sabi - mas gusto nila ang mapag isa?

Month of February ng mag-umpisa ako sa training ng pag-boboses. Naririnig at nakikita ni Ate Phen, anak ko na may autismo, ang lahat ng pinag-aaralan namin at ginagawang mga exercises. Lingid sa aking kaalaman, pinag-aaralan na pala nya kung paano ang pag- boses.

Bago pa man ako mapabilang sa training ng pag-boboses, napansin ko na, na may interes na talaga si Aten Phen sa pag-arte at pag-gaya ng mga boses. Karaniwan ko siyang naririnig na umaarte sa harap ng salamin at pag may pagkakataon, inaaya nya ang mga pinsan nya na mag-acting acting daw sila.

Si Ate Phen habang siya ay nasa dubbing booth

Kaya nang ako ay mabigyan ng pagkakataon na maimbitahan para mag record ng isang audio book, nakiusap sakin si Ate Phen a kung pwede din daw syang mag-dubbing. Ang nasa isip ko lamang sa mga oras na iyon, pip-icturan ko lang siya sa loob ng recording studio. After noon, alam kong magiging maligaya na siya. Subalit after ko s’ya makunan, hinanap nya sa akin iyong babasahin daw nya na part ng script! Nagulat ako pero bilang isang Ina, isang karangalan at kaligayahan sa isang tulad ko na mapagbigyan at mahasa ang talento na meron ang anak ko. Nakiusap ako sa direktor na mapagbigyan ang kanyang hiling. Laking gulat ko na lamang nang narinig ko ang aking anak: marunong pala siya na ibagay ang kanyang boses base sa istorya ng kanyang binabasa. Sobrang nag-uumapaw ang aking kagalakan sa mga oras na iyon! Daig ko pa ang nanalo sa lotto. Maaaring mapanuod dito ang video ni Ate Phen habang siya ay nasa dubbing station: https://bit.ly/3yKnaSc

Ito ay isang pagpapatunay na ang mga tulad nila ay kelangan lang bigyan ng pagkakataon upang maipamalas ang kanilang mga natatanging angking kakayanan. Sa ating paniniwala at pag-agapay sa kanila, tiyak na makakamtam nila ang landas na gusto nilang tahakin.

Sa mga kagaya ko na magulang, lalo na ung mga nawawalan ng pag-asa: sila pala ay may pag-asa, nakasalalay lamang sa ating mga kamay. To God be the Glory!

About the contributor: Mommy Esperanza Marzo o Mommy Espie sa karamihan ay ang kasalukuyang chapter president ng ASP San Mateo. Si Mommy Espie ay may 2 anak, ang panganay niya na si Ate Phenelope ay may autismo. Siya ay supplier ng lechon at seafoods bilang kabuhayan.

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