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World autism awareness week

Release date:
2 April 2020
BP and its co-venturers support development programmes for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

 

2nd of April is an internationally recognized World Autism Awareness Day designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution in 2007. On this day United Nations member states are encouraged to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout the world.


Over the past 26 years BP and its co-venturers in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Shah Deniz, and South Caucasus Pipeline projects have supported a large number of major social investment projects in the country and “Creating Opportunities for Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder” is one of them.


In 2019, together with our co-venturers, we successfully completed the “Creating Opportunities for Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder” social investment project. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the name given to the range of developmental disorders often reflected in problematic behaviors. Such disorders are generally characterized by difficulty to communicate, express oneself, interact with others, and limited interest and/or activities. As a result of these characteristics, autistic people are generally isolated from educational, social and work settings and opportunities. Based on the international statistics, about 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD today; however, not all of autistic persons display same characteristics. What is more, majority of people with autistic disorders do not look differently when compared to non-ASD people.


The aim of the project was to bring one of the internationally practiced systematic formal programs to Azerbaijan to help people with autistic disorders integrate into the society and to enhance an inclusive mindset in the society.


Below we would like to note major achievements as a result of the implemented project:

 

  • 5 local specialists from private, non-government and public sectors and 250 parents received training on Autism Behavioral Analysis
  • A total of 620 children with the autism spectrum disorder attended various rehabilitation and training programs
  • Web site on autism was developed within the project framework for the first time in Azerbaijan to support autism spectrum disorder specialists and parents of autistic children and expand their knowledge and skills (https://autizmportali.az/)
  • The book “activities and materials for autistic individuals” was developed to support the specialists and parents of autistic children in their ef5forts to apply properly the requirement treatment technics.

 

The project has immensely helped people with Autism Spectrum Disorder integrate into society, adapt to mainstream education, engage in professional work environment and prepare for family life.


BP and its co-venturers are committed to invest in development of people with disabilities and special needs. We believe It is pivotal to join efforts to create the best possible conditions for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as other developmental disabilities, so that they can make their own contribution to a future that is fair and sustainable for all.

 

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