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Singapore joins Global "Light it Up Blue!" Campaign for World Autism Awareness Day for the First Time

In celebration of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) 2012, Singapore is participating in the global Light It Up Blue! campaign. Leading the way, ION Orchard lit up blue on 30 March 2012 and will continue to do so over the four days leading up to WAAD 2012 on 2 April 2012. Duke-NUS, the Singapore Flyer, St. Andrew’s Cathedral and participating partners’ buildings in various parts of Singapore also followed its cue and lit up blue that very evening and will continue to do so throughout the weekend.

The inaugural light up at ION Orchard was accompanied by The Hwa Chong Institution Military Band and representatives of the partnering autism organisations. Students of Benjamin Sheares College at Duke-NUS began coordinating celebrations with the Autism Association (Singapore), Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), Rainbow Centre, Shoulders Singapore and St. Andrew’s Autism Centre last year. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about autism throughout society through WAAD and highlight a current gap in care available to individuals with autism in Singapore. One example being children with autism spectrum disorder having very restricted options for further development and advancement after their secondary school education.

Light it Up Blue! is a global campaign where prominent buildings and structures all over the world turn their lights blue to raise awareness of autism and to commemorate WAAD. Buildings that have participated in past years include the Empire State building in New York, Niagara Falls in Canada, Sydney Opera House in Australia, and Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.

A long time champion of this cause is Ms Denise Phua, MP of Moulmein-Kallang GRC, President of the Autism Resource Centre and Co-founder of Pathlight School. Of the event, Ms Phua noted that, “This reminds everyone that it takes a village to build the kind of inclusive home we can be proud of.”

Other activities are being organised in conjunction with the light-up event, including two concurrent one day seminar for caregivers and medical professionals on 31 March 2012 at Pathlight Schol. Themed, “Transition into Adulthood”, the seminar will provide an overview of the current autism landscape in Singapore and address issues surrounding this topic which are of concern for caregivers. Separately, issues relating to the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and alternative treatment strategies will be explored amongst healthcare professionals.

In addition to the seminars, the Neuro-Behavioural Clinic (Autism Services) will set up a booth at Pathlight School from 30-31 March 2012. The Neuro-Behaviourial Clinic (Autism Services) is one of the first public clinics in Singapore managing children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and accompanying mental health disorders. Senior psychologists will be on site at the booth to educate visitors about autism and the services offered by their clinic.

2 April was officially declared as WAAD on 18 December 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly. WAAD is special as it is one of the few selected official disease or disorder-specific United Nations Days. It is hoped that WAAD will bring the world’s attention to autism - a pervasive disorder that affects millions.

Appendix A - Light it Up Blue Campaigns Around the World 2011

Media Contacts (World Autism Awareness Day 2012): 
Ms Debra Quek
Student Publicity Representative
Duke-NUS
8 College Road Singapore 169857
Phone: +65 836 61608
Email: debra.quek@nus.edu.sg

Ms Anuradha Pandey
Seminar Coordinator
Duke-NUS
8 College Road Singapore 169857
Phone: +65 94351521
Email: anuradha.pandey@nus.edu.sg
Ms Michelle Pang
Corporate Communications
St. Andrew’s Autism Centre (HQ)
Phone: +65 65173817
Email: michelle@saac.org.sg

Mr Lim Shien Yau
AVP, Marketing Communications
Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd
2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard
Management Office 05-05 Singapore 238801
Phone: +65 8358737
Email: lim.shienyau@orchardturn.com.sg