World News in Review
Singapore
Jerusalem, Israel
Lush 99.5FM along with eight Singapore
artists are auctioning off art to raise money
and autism awareness for the non-profit
Autism Association (Singapore) (AAS) . The
participating artists include Sandra Riley Tang
of The Sam Willows, Andy Yang, Jonathan
Kiat, Little Ong, Heider Ismail, Marc Gabriel,
Eric Foenander and “Sticker Lady” Samantha
Lo (skl0).
The country’s youngest university, Ariel
University, first started a special program
six years ago to provide additional
assistance for two of their students who
had special needs. Today, the university
has 30 students under the program, and
has a string of success stories of
students who have received assistance
from them.
A study recently conducted by child
psychologist, developmental specialist
and chairmen of the Israeli Association
of Child Development and Rehabilitation
Dr. Mitchell Shertz showed that autism is
less common in ultra-Orthodox and Arab
communities.
Abu Dhab
A documentary on autism featuring children
on the spectrum from the United Arab
Emirates will premier at the Abu Dhabi Film
Festival. Titled “As One”, the documentary
tells the story of 10 children between the
ages of 4 and 17 as they participate in the
The Autism Project by taking music and
theater workshops that end with a grand
musical number.
Sofia, Bulgaria
A 13-year-old child with autism who is a
student of a special school in Bulgaria
has reportedly been abused sexually by
her own teacher. The child’s mother filed
charges Sept. 29 after noticing that her
daughter, Ana Maria, was afraid of her
teacher who may have molested her.
The Autism Project was founded by Her
Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohamed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan to help raise autism
awareness.
Dozens of mothers rallied in protest
against the outrageous crime in the city
of Plovdiv earlier in October, while
parents also gathered in front of the
Bulgarian Ministry of Education in
support of Ana Maria.
South Asia
Families with autism face isolation after
diagnosis. The reason for isolation generally
comes from the overall misunderstanding
and fear of the learning difference and
what it could mean for a family’s academic
success.
10