«Autism does not define me as a person. I only ask for respect and some empathy so that children and young people who are diagnosed with this disorder now, and have to learn to live with it, do not find another obstacle in the looks and criticism of others, as happened to me and so many others. generations. “We have to try to put ourselves in the other person's shoes and know that it can happen to anyone.” The request of Lucas Saura, a 22-year-old young man, who participated this Sunday in the Autism We Are All solidarity march, is one of the demands that a blue wave of more than three thousand people walked through the historic center of the city.
The solidarity route started from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento around 11 a.m. this Sunday where it returned after 1:30 p.m., after a five-kilometer itinerary through the streets of the center. There were inflatables, music and face painting so that attendees could enjoy this solidarity day to the fullest. A party with which the association, accompanied by other groups such as SOI Cartagena and Zancadas sobre Ruedas, tries to get the commitment of administrations and citizens to accompany them in the work of improving the quality of life for people on the autism spectrum, both in childhood as in adult life.
The route has a double objective: to make this group visible and to obtain financing to develop projects aimed at providing them with greater autonomy.
On waiting list
Autismo Somos Todos, an association made up of 200 families with more than one member affected by this disorder, has a work unit in place to integrate beneficiaries into the community, teaching them to take care of themselves. In this project they learn to carry out their daily routines with the maximum possible autonomy in their hygiene habits, in the kitchen or when taking a bus. «Unfortunately, we have a waiting list to join the association, and the numbers are going to continue to rise, because contrary to what many people believe, this is not a trend and more and more are diagnosed, which is what families need. to help these people,” said its president, Gloria Alemán.
Among the projects that the association intends to launch are supervised apartments, although they understand that to promote them “greater involvement of the administrations” is needed.
At the moment, the association provides individual therapies and provides, among other services, guidance and advice to affected families and young people.
“We must abandon prejudices and ignorance and try to get to know people with autism, give them that opportunity,” encouraged María José López, mother of two children with autism, ages 13 and 9.
Those in charge of kicking off the march were the Councilor for Sports, José Martínez, the Councilor for Social Policy, Equality and Family, Cristina Mora, and the General Director of People with Disabilities, Miriam Pérez
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