President of SMARTER and CEO of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Malai Haji Abdullah. - DANIAL NORJIDI

Written by Danial Norjidi, Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Bandar Seri Begawan - SMARTER is working towards forming a federation with Autism organisations from Asean countries, said SMARTER President and CEO ofAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Malai Haji Abdullah, in an interview with the Bulletin yesterday.

He also spoke on behalf of the families of the 116 children who have been diagnosed with autism in Brunei, and who are referred to SMARTER.

"We are now under the Asia Pacific Centre for Development (APCD), and we are now organising the Autism Federation of Asean Region (AFAR). AFAR means to look far ahead. We are forming the federation with other organisations in Asean countries," he continued. "They have agreed, so we're hoping to have meetings, and gain support.

"We are also a member of World Autism Organisation. We have to collaborate outside the country. That's the idea of inclusive education, for anybody and everybody who wants to help us out to do so."

Speaking about the upcoming World Autism Awareness Day that SMARTER is set to hold for the third time on Friday, April 2, the SMARTER President said that they will be holding a forum, in which officers from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education will be participating.

"I'm hoping that the forum will allow us to have a dialogue, to collaborate and work on advocating the rights of those with autism. All we're doing is complementing, and taking charge," he said.

"If not the parents, who else?" he continued. "It cannot be done by specialists or doctors because about 16 to 18 hours are spent in the house, with the family, so you must empower the family, and the family must take charge.

"This is our third time to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. The theme of Inclusive Development should include social levels," he said.

"When you talk about it, you're only giving academic help, but one of their problems is their socialisation.

"You have to include that component. For example, an institution like a hospital must understand that they cannot wait so long. You must look at their needs. Inclusiveness takes into consideration the uniqueness of the people.

"When we talk about inclusive development, it includes not only the family and teachers, but everyone."