This year, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, called on the world to focus on the importance of empowering women and girls with autism. In keeping with this appeal, Soroptimist International San Fernando partnered with the Mayor of the City of San Fernando to host the first Light It Up Blue event for Autism Awareness and Acceptance.
The programme included chalk art for children and their families. All children, parents, invited guests, and supporters were treated to performances by the National Center for Persons with Disabilities Ensemble (NCPD) and four singers from The Trebles of T&T.
Suzette Neptune-Fortune, one of the parents of an autistic child who attends the monthly workshops, performed a skit in which she made an impassioned appeal against discrimination, and advocated for the rights and fundamental freedoms of autistics to be legislated by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Immediate Past President, Rabbia Khan; the Mayor of the City, Alderman Junia Regrello; and the President of the Autistic Society of T&T, Teresina Sieunarine, brought greetings. The CEO of NCPD, Dr Beverly Beckles, Soroptimists, autistic children and their families and the general public were also in attendance.
