to go to next content, find ## Title: Activity on Autism in the ASEAN Region Autism Workshop 13 -15 December 2010 APCD Training Building, Bangkok Thailand Autism Congress 16 -17 December 2010 Sofitel Centara Grand Hotel, Bangkok Thailand table of content: 1. Summary 2. Workshop Program 3. Participant List of Workshop 4. AAN Executive Committee Members 5. Congress Program 6. Bangkok Statement on Autism ## 1.Summary: A network on Autism in the ASEAN region (AAN) was established with “Family Comes First” as a core concept during the Autism Workshop organized by APCD in cooperation with JICA in Bangkok on 13-15 December 2010. The Autism Congress was held by The Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism (Thailand), Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (Thailand), Khun Poom Foundation (Thailand) and Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency on 16-17 December 2010 as a back-to-back event. This newly born network must bring an exciting beginning to the Autism community in the ASEAN region. Being an effective forum in the ASEAN countries, AAN can work at the national and sub-regional levels to advocate for the rights of persons with autism. This unique gathering brought 27 representatives from 9 countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Each participant had an autistic person in their family, which illustrated the nature of the Workshop. The Constitution of AAN was thoroughly examined and critiqued by all participants with Mr. Akiie Ninomiya, APCD Executive Director as a facilitator. The Constitution was finally adopted and agreed upon at the Inaugural General Assembly of AAN. The first AAN Executive Committee is composed of representatives from each country. Mr. Chusak Janthayanond, President of the Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism is the first AAN Chairperson. The two Deputy Chairpersons are Mr. Malai Hj Abdullah Othman from Brunei Darussalam and Mr. Haji Bistaman Siru Abd Rahman from Malaysia. At the 5th APCD Workshop for the Capacity Development of Self-Help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CDSHOD) in Bangkok, in January 2010, an idea to establish Autism Networking in the ASEAN region was proposed and informally agreed to by the family members of the autism community from Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. It was proposed that the Network be a platform to engage and empower all parents groups and self-help organizations on autism that would work for an autism-friendly ASEAN region. To support this movement therefore, APCD decided to organize the Autism Network Workshop in the ASEAN region. “Family Comes First” highlights the core concept in the establishment of AAN, organized by APCD in cooperation with JICA on 13-15 December 2010. This newly born Network brings an exciting beginning to the Autism community in the ASEAN region. This initiative will be an effective forum for the ASEAN region. In addition, the Network can work at the National and Sub-regional levels to advocate for the rights of Persons with Autism. Finally, the Network can support Self-advocates to form their own groups at the community level. This unique gathering brought 27 representatives from 9 countries, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, and the most touching part of this gathering was the fact that each of the participants has an autistic individual in their family. AAN hopes to have representative from Singapore join this Network eventually. This three day workshop aims to establish the Autism Parents’ Network in the ASEAN Region and formulate an Action Plan at the regional level. In addition, a few key activities were incorporated including a country situational analysis, a field trip to Mahannaparam School, a mainstream school, and the Bangkok Autism Vocational Center. The AAN Constitution was thoroughly examined and critiqued by all participants with the facilitation of the APCD Executive Director. The Constitution was finally adopted and agreed to at the Inaugural General Assembly of AAN in ecember 2010. The first Executive Committee of the Network was composed of representatives from each country. Mr. Chusak Janthayanond, president of the Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism, was nominated as the first Chairperson of AAN. Mr. Noy Indavong, from Lao Autism Association, is an Honorary Chairperson. The two Deputy Chairpersons are Mr. Malai Hj Abdullah Othman from Brunei Darussalam and Mr. Haji Bistaman Siru Abd Rahman from Malaysia. The mission of AAN is to support, assist, facilitate and enhance autism-related family support groups in collaboration with other stakeholders in the ASEAN region and globally. One of the main objectives is to educate, develop, and give opportunities for autism-related family support groups of each member country, helping them to grow towards achieving global standards with reference to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other international and regional instruments related to autism. AAN serves as a platform for autism-related family support groups of each ASEAN member country to collaborate, cooperate, coordinate, and unite in developing a holistic curriculum* (see note at the bottom) exclusively for autism that is local, affordable, accessible and inexpensive to ensure sustainability throughout the life-span of individuals with autism. Such strategies and intervention programs will be non-discriminatory in support of families, including those economically challenged. More importantly, the extended family structure on which the ASEAN community is based will remain the core of any developmental program and strategies. At present, AAN regional action plan consists of four main working committees; 1) the Public Relation and Information Committee 2) the Research and Development Committee 3) the Fundraising and Sponsorship Committee and 4) the Learning, Education and Training Committee. APCD pledges to support this family network and keep up the spirit of, “Act for Autism now!” In addition, APCD, as the Secretariat of the AAN, will continue to collaborate and support this Network to further develop and promote the quality of life for Persons with Autism in the ASEAN region. * A holistic curriculum is an all-embracing curriculum that takes into account the social, emotional, educational, economical, technical, and spiritual perspectives of individuals with autism, their families and relevant communities of that member country. image caption: Receiving Trophy from Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Representatives from nine of the ASEAN countries were honoured when Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya presented trophies to them in recognition of their efforts. The next Autism Congress is scheduled to be held in 2012 in Brunei Darussalam, followed by the AAN General Assembly. image caption: Exchanging Views on Autism during the Workshop image caption: Presentation by Participants from ASEAN Countries in the Congress ## 2. Workshop Program Day 1: 13 December 2010 08:30-09:00 Registration Resource Person: Mr. Ranilo Sorongon, Philippines 09:00-10:00 Opening Ceremony by Mr. Onoda Katsuji, JICA Chief Advisor and Mr. Akiie Ninomiya, APCD Executive Director, Introduction of each participant, and Group Photo 10:00-10:45 Introduction of background and objectives of ASEAN Q&A, sharing ideas 10:45-11:00 Coffee Break 11:00-11:50 Presentation and Situational Analysis by each country Facilitator: Mr. U Kyaw Htut , Myanmar 11.50-12.00 Van Arrangement for Field Trip 12.00-12.30 Short Lunch 13.00-16.00 Field Trip to Mahannaparam School, a mainstream school and Bangkok Autism Vocational Center 16.00-17.00 Continued morning session and wrap-up for the day Facilitator: Mr. U Kyaw Htut , Myanmar Day 2: 14 Dec. 2010 08.30 – 10.30 APCD Introduction of its role. Establishment of Autism Network in the ASEAN Region: name, core-group members and each role, vision and mission, objectives, constitution structure, finance,management, and election of Executive Committee etc Resource Person: Mr. Malai Hj Abdullah Othman, Brunei Darussalam Facilitator: APCD staff and Dr.Samrerng, Thailand 10.30 – 10.50 Coffee break 10.50 – 12.00 Morning Session Continued Speaker: Mr. Malai Hj Abdullah Othman, Brunei Darussalam; Facilitator: APCD staff and Dr. Samrerng Virachanang, Thailand 12.00 – 13.30 Lunch 13.30 - 15.30 Action plan development in response to regional situation organized by new Executive Committee (Second congress venue, organizer, chairperson country as a possible venue and etc.) Resource Person: New Chairman; Facilitator: Ms. Dyah Puspita, Indonesia 15.30 – 15.50 Coffee break 15.50 – 17.00 Afternoon session continued Resource Person: New Chairman; Facilitator: Ms. Dyah Puspita, Indonesia Day 3: 15 December 2010 08.30 – 10.00 Presentation of the action plan, and adoption of constitution and election of committee member Resource Person: Mr. Meas Rithy, Cambodia; Facilitator: Mr. Michael Schulze, Lao PDR 10.00 – 10.20 Coffee break 10.20 – 12.00 Presentation of the action plan, and adoption of constitution and election of committee member (Continued) 12.30 – 13.30 Lunch 13.30 – 14.30 Preparation for the congres presentation on December, 16th AFAR: Sharing expected outcomes Facilitator: Ms.Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Vietnam 16.30 Closing ceremony, giving certificate and group photo (announcing of next year plan/activity) image caption: Opening of the Workshop at APCD image caption: Field Trip to a Good Practice Site in Thailand ## 3. Participant List of Workshop Brunei Darussalam 1 Mr. Malai Hj Abdullah Othman SMARTER Brunei (Society for the Management of Autism Related Issues – in Training, Education and Resources) 2 Mr. Pg Hj Kamal Bashah bin Pg Hj Ahmad 3 Ms. Annisa Hj Moksin Cambodia 4 Mrs. Svay Simorn Parents Association for Children Intellectual Disabilities-Cambodia (PACHID) 5 Mrs. Nhoung Daravy 6 Mr. Meas Rithy Indonesia 7 Ms. Dyah Puspita Yayasan Autisma Indonesia 8 Mrs Shinta Werorilangi Kristanto 9 Dr. Debie Katleen Romy Lao PDR 10 Mr. Michael Schultze Lao Autism Association 11 Mr. Noy Indavong Malaysia 12 Dr. Lim Boon Hock Wings Melaka Early Intervention Center, Malaysia 13 Mr. Lim Khoon Chuan The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) 14 Mr. Haji Bistamam Siru Abd Rahman 15 Mr. Teh Beng Choon Myanmar 16 Mr. U Kyaw Htut Family Network for Intellectual Disabled Children, Myanmar Disabled Peoples’ Organization (MDPO) 17 Mr. U Nay Htun 18 Mrs. San San Myint Philippines 19 Mr. Ranilo Sorongon Autism Society Philippines 20 Ms. Mary Grace L. Adviento 21 Ms. Rizalinda C. Cansanay Thailand 22 Mr. Chusak Janthayanond Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism 23 Dr. Samrerng Virachanang 24 Mr.Charoen Khuwinphan Vietnam 25 Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang Club for Parents of Autistic Children 26 Ms. Ngo Thi Van Hang Danang Parents Association for Autistic Children 27 Ms. Tran Le Na Self-help Group of Parents of Autistic Children, HCMC ## 4. AAN Executive Committee Members Role Name, Organization, Position Country Honorary Chairperson; Mr. Noy Indavong, Advisor, Lao Autism Association Lao PDR Chairperson; Mr. Chusak Janthayanond, President, Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism Thailand Deputy Chairperson; Mr. Malai Hj Abdullah Othman, President, SMARTER Brunei Brunei Darussalam Deputy Chairperson; Mr. Haji Bistaman Siru Abd Rahman, Chairman of Advisory Board, National Autism Society of Malaysia Malaysia Honorary Treasurer; Ms. Tran Le Na, Member, Self-help Group of Parents of Autistic Children, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Honorary Secretary; Mr. U Kyaw Htut, President, Family Network for Intellectual Disabled Children Myanmar Chairperson of Public Relations and Information Committee; Ms. Mary Grace L. Adviento, President, Autism Society Philippines Philippines Chairperson of Research and Development Committee; Ms. Dyah Puspita, Secretary, Yayasan Autisma Indonesia Indonesia Chairperson of Fundraising and Sponsorship Committee; Ms. Svay Simorn, Director, Parents Association for Children with Intellectual Disabilities Cambodia Chairperson of Working Committee; TBC TBC Secretary General; Mr. Akiie Ninomiya, Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability Thailand Agreed on at the 1st ASEAN Autism Workshop at APCD Training Building in Bangkok Dated 15 December 2010 image caption: AAN Executive Commitee Members ## 5. Congress Program Day 1: 16 December 2010 Time Sessions 08.00 - 09.15 Registration 09.30 - 10.00 Opening ceremony by Mr. Is-sara Somchai, Minister, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security 1) Report about the workshop by Ms. Kingkaew Inwang, Secretary-general, National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disability 2) The purposes of the Congress, Mr. Chusak Janthayanond, President, Association of Parents of Thai Persons with Autism 3) International collaboration on Autism by Dr. Tej Bunnag, Chairman, Asia-Pacific Development on Disability 4) Welcome speech by Dr. Chinnapart Bhumrirat, Committee, Khun Poom Foundation 10.00 -10.30 Lecture on “How UNESCAP support Persons with Autism”, Ms. Aiko Akiyama, Social Affairs Officer, Social Development Division, UNESCAP 10.30 - 9.45 Coffee break 10.45 - 12.00 Panel Discussion “Challenges for the Future” By the 10 ASEAN countries (10 min/country) 12.00 - 13.00 Lunch 13.00 - 14.30 (Continued) Panel Discussion “Challenges for the Future” By the representatives from 10 ASEAN countries 14.30 - 14.45 Coffee break 14.45 - 16.15 Showing of Autism activities such as music, art and handicraft (10 min/country) 16.15 - 17.00 Preparing for welcome H.R.H. Princess Ubolrat Ratchakanja 18.00 Welcome the Princess - Trophies and scholarships will be granted Day 2: 17 December 2010 Time Program 08.00 - 09.00 Registration 09.00 - 10.30 Discussion on “The progress in supporting the quality of life of Autism person in Thailand” by-National Office for Empowerment of Person with disability, Bureau of special education management and AU-Thai and Special Education Center; Facilitate by Dr. Samrerng Virachanang 10.30 - 12.00 Divided into 4 groups (4 rooms) Room 1 Early Intervention: Dr. Yoko Isobe, Asia-Pacific Development on Disability and Dr. Lim Boon Hock, Wings Meleka Early Childhood Intervention Center in Malaysia Room 2 Special Education / Inclusive Education: Prof. Dr. Padung Arayawinyu, Learning Disabilities Association of Thailand Room 3 Empowerment /Group Home: Mr. Chusak Janthayanond , Dr. Samrerng Virachanang and team, Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism Room 4 Adult Leisure: Ms. Ujita Teruko, Japan Developmental Disabilities Network and Mr. Ranilo Sorongon, Autism Society Philippines 12.00 - 13.00 Lunch 13.00 - 14.30 Presenting of each group in the plenary room 14.30 Closing remark by Khun Poom Foundation image caption: Opening of the Congress ## 6. Bangkok Statement on Autism We, the representatives of persons with autism, family groups and organizations for persons with autism from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Thailand, in total 300 persons, participated in the first ASEAN Autism Congress, from 16 to 17 December 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. We sincerely thank the organizers, the Khun Poom Foundation and the Association of Parents of Thai Persons with Autism (AU Thai) in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with support from the Ministry of Education of Thailand and people of Thailand for their great hospitality and support in the proactive implementation of the Congress. We declare our collective statement as follows; 1.Various efforts on autism made by relevant stakeholders in the ASEAN region are appreciated to promote understanding of persons with autism and their family members. 2.Central and local governments are encouraged to develop and support any initiative on autism, particularly to establish and strengthen self-help groups/organizations of persons with autism and their family members. 3.Health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment components in the context of community-based inclusive development are critical among persons with autism and their family members. Therefore, ASEAN Member States and multi-stakeholder collaborations are essential in this regard. Furthermore, we appeal to the Governments of ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders to consider the following recommendations to strengthen the autism movement in the ASEAN region; 1.We encourage ASEAN Member States to consider the perspective of autism in the planning, implementation and monitoring of a national policy on disability in line with the principle of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). 2.We agree to the idea of establishing a new decade of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region (2013-2022) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and APCD by highlighting community-based inclusive development to empower persons of disabilities including persons with autism and their family members. 3.We agree to the idea of establishing the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities, initiated by the Government of Thailand, to mainstream disability in the development agenda. 4.We acknowledge the establishment of the ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) and recognize its importance to enhance the solidarity and unity among persons with autism and their family members, to lead the autism movement at the grassroots, national, regional and international levels. 5.We call for the ASEAN Member States and relevant partners to support the second ASEAN Autism Congress to be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2012. Unanimously agreed by all participants at the first ASEAN Autism Congress 17 December 2010