SIBU: Sibu Autistic Association (SAA) will be holding the National Autism Convention on April 15-16 next year.
Its president David Ngu said many experts and professionals from all over the nation have been invited to share practical knowledge and skills on bringing autism children forwards to a better tomorrow.
“Please do come and register yourself for this convention,” he said at SAA’s graduation dinner cum parents gathering held at a hotel here on yesterday evening (Dec 9).
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing was the guest of honour at the event.
According to the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), one per 68 newborn or 9,000 babies are diagnosed as having ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) every year.
In Sibu alone, he said around 70 autistic children have been identified every year, with the latest statistic for 2022 (January to November), showing 119 new cases.
He said this does not include all those who are still in assessment stage.
With high figures of ASD, he pointed out it is very crucial for SAA to expand the current premises so that more autism children will have the opportunity to get proper attention and training as soon as possible.
“Our current premises can only accommodate about 50 children at one time, which is far insufficient as there is high demand in Sibu.
“By the grace of the Board of Management of Agape Centre, we have launched the new building project which is just next to the current premises. With this new building, we can accommodate around 200 children at one time.
“We submitted the application to the Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA) for approval early this year. And we seek Datuk Seri Tiong’s favour in helping us to discuss with our Premier for speedy approval,” he stated.
According to him, the project will cost more than RM3 million and that to date only RM200,000 has been raised.
On SAA, Ngu said it was started more than 20 years ago with three autism children and three trainers.
Over the years,SAA has trained around 1,000 children in the region of Sibu, he said, adding in 2014, SAA was selected by the government to start OKU Taska Autisme Sibu, which is the only OKU Taska in the whole state.
He pointed out that SAA’s operational cost in running this programme amounts to more than RM500,000 per year.
“And the school fee that we collect can only cover a quarter of the expenses. That is why we need lots of funding from government and public to sustain this community project.
“Even though it is not easy, we are here, willing to help all the autism children, through our specific programmes, by our well-trained qualified trainers. All of our staff, including myself, from time to time are undergoing training to upgrade ourselves, so that children will be able to learn the best from best, ” Ngu added.
