Saigon Children’s Charity on April 6 announces Vietnam Autism Alliance, a strategic partnership between organisations with expertise or interest in the autism spectrum disorder, to mark Autism Awareness month in April. Photo Courtesy of saigonchildren

HCM CITY— Vietnam Autism Alliance, a strategic partnership between organisations with expertise or interest in autism spectrum disorder in Việt Nam, has been set up to mark Autism Awareness month in April.

By bringing together organisations and individuals who are experts in fields related to autism support such as medicine, therapy, education, care, and technology, VAA hopes to foster awareness so that people with autism and their families can access timely and appropriate support.

Besides, organisations and individuals working in the field have a place to co-ordinate their efforts and collaborate to support people with autism. 

The alliance includes Saigon Children’s Charity (saigonchildren), Vietnam Autism Network, Thanh Bùi of Education Embassy, experts from the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population, National Special Education Center – Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences, Hanoi National University of Education, HCM City University of Education, Children’s Hospital 1, Gia Khang International Hospital, CMI International Hospital, Simba development team, and Monstar Lab, Đà Nẵng University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, and SENIA Vietnam. 

Saigonchildren launched www.tukylagi.com at the event to provide information about autism.

It also launched the 2021 ‘The Steps Challenge’ with the message “Step Up for Autism.” 

The challenge calls on the community to take part in an online walking challenge to raise awareness of the autism spectrum disorder, with each registration contributing VNĐ130,000 (US$5.6) to activities supporting children with autism in disadvantaged circumstances including knowledge building for parents, training for practitioners and providing free early intervention therapy for children.  

First launched in 2019 The Steps Challenge has gained widespread recognition in the community by encouraging people to be active. 

In the last two years it accumulated over three million steps and raised over VNĐ1 billion ($43,360) for autism support and emergency support for children with autism affected by COVID-19. 

Damien Roberts, director of saigonchildren, said: “Autism Spectrum Disorder in Việt Nam is still a relatively new issue for the majority of the public.

“With projects supporting children with autism and their families, we found that general support for autism is still quite fragmented, and a single organisation cannot undertake the issue by itself.

“It is essential to convene all of the parties working to improve research, pedagogy, therapy, intervention, and support in the field.” VNS