ASM JAVID
COLOMBO: A group of supporters along with parents and teachers have marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Colombo City Centre on Saturday, December 3 in the presence of Dr. Samanmali Sumanasena, Professor in Pediatric Disabilities, Dr. Nimeera C. Weerarathene Speech Pathologist, CEO, The Bridge International Institute, Ms. Hasna Luthufi, Child Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Mrs. Ilma Sedar Counselor and Consulting Psychologist, Mrs. Malathi Kahandaliyanage,YWMA Pesident Fawaza Thaha and Advocate for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Mrs. Fazmina Farook as Moderator.
During the awareness program Dr. Samanmali Sumanasena talked about the importance of early childhood intervention. She also advised the parents to give support to the children with developmental delay or disabilities. This will enable the child to have the best possible start in life. It is also advised by the Speech Pathologist, Child Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Counselor and Consulting Psychologist that if the parents have noticed any developmental delay or disability they should get early assessment from the relevant consultant.
As a teacher, an advocate for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a parent, Mrs. Malathi Kahandaliyanage, known as “Aunty Ma” shared her experience in bringing up a son with Autism and the challenges she faced.
The organizers of the event advised all the parents with Persons with Disabilities to take Mrs. Malathi Kahandaliyanage, “Aunty Ma as a role model. The Organizers; Aminath Azeema, Karishma Pandit and Radhia Barrie would like to extend their thanks to Mrs. Fazmina Farook; the moderator, the panelists and convey their heartfelt thanks to all the invitees, sponsors and volunteers who made this event a possibility.
They hoped to create more awareness so the Persons with Disabilities can be given a chance to be accepted by the society.
With this goal in mind, the participants left the venue pledging to organize more such awareness programs in different parts of Sri Lanka,
