Lack of awareness prompts first-ever autism training

The lack of awareness, proper diagnosis, treatment and care for children with autism in the country has prompted a parent advocate to spearhead a first of its kind training on how to better deal with it.

Autism is a developmental condition which affects a person’s interaction and communication as they grow.

In a bid to break the silence on Austism in PNG, Rosemary Laki, a parent who founded the PNG Autism advocates group in 2020 has been advocating for awareness and improved services for autistic individuals.

Her 9-year old son, Israel, is the driving force behind her campaign.

She’s been able to partner with Callan Services to carry out awareness and now this training to assist those in charge of children with autism to have a better quality of life.

Mrs. Laki’s autism campaign drew the attention of pediatrician and autism consultant, Dr. Zahilah Filzah Zulkifli from Malaysia, who conducted 3 workshops on the SPELL training and certified about 20 participants from the health sector, schools and parents – over the weekend.

The SPELL or Structure, positive, empathy, low arousal and link framework training was developed by the National Autistic Society in the United Kingdom to better deal with autistic children.

Parent, Nancy Reuben has been faced with the challenge of having her 10-year-old son, Zachariah, be properly diagnosed and treated:

The PNG Autism advocates were grateful for the funding support for the SPELL training from the PM and National Executive Council.