All blue

With a membership of about 130, the Autism Association of Barbados (AAB) has developed a supportive community to assist families in coping with autism, according to the association’s president Frank Johnson.

“We have a very active watch group of just over 100 people. They represent families, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and caregivers of all sorts of ages,” he said as the AAB joined with the Barbados Council for the Disabled to illuminate the Parliament Buildings in blue lights on Tuesday, marking World Autism Awareness Day. 

“We all use the social network to swap stories, to teach each other coping strategies, to tell each other ways around particular problems that we might have with our kids. It’s a great way of keeping in touch, and most of all, you feel that you’re not alone.”  

Johnson said that initially, having a child on the autism spectrum can be isolating, but the AAB has grown into a community that encourages its members. 

“One of the greatest fall downs of our society, I think, is that when you do find yourself with a child who is on the spectrum, you do feel that you’ve been on your own for quite a long time and that there is nobody else to talk to, but I’m very glad to say that over the past few years now we’ve developed as a society and as a community,” he said.

The remarks came as the groups observed World Autism Awareness Day to bring awareness to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). April is recognised as Autism Awareness Month.

Johnson told the gathering, which included Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey, St James North MP Edmund Hinkson, Senator Andewle Boyce and President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled Kerryann Ifill, that there is wider recognition of autism “for us and for greater awareness in schools, especially”.  

He added: “I’m very glad to say that the society is now being given a lease of a building to call our own as a headquarters from which we will be running therapy workshops, both for families, parents and children as well as young adults.”

In his speech, Hinkson told the group clad in blue t-shirts with the words  ‘Light it Up Blue’, that Barbados implemented a national policy on disabilities last September, which must be instituted within a “seven-year stream”. Under Humphrey’s ministry, disability advocates, including Senator Boyce, attorney Janeil Odle, and Ifill have been selected to assist with implementation.

“Later on this year, there’s every intention to bring the draft Rights to Disabilities Bill before Parliament to give legal teeth now to this policy,” Hinkson said. 

(FW)