The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation's (MCADF’s) flagship event to promote Autism Awareness, held annually during global Autism Awareness month in April; its Autism and Disabilities Ambassadors Competition…has been enacted and the winners are to be announced Saturday April 13-2013.
The winners will be awarded their prizes on the Foundation's anniversary Sunday April 28-2013.
The competition was started and developed by the MCADF in 2011 to effect behavioral change among the secondary school population of the nation, as it relates to their treatment of people affected by Autism and other disabilities.
The MCADF team developed several strategies to impact increased awareness and positively behavioral change in this area, as rising rates of Autism in Jamaica, indicated to the body’s leadership that there would have to be change and action at all …levels to deal effectively with the Autism disorders the problem increases .
Foundation insiders confirm that the 3rd annual staging of its Autism and Disabilities Ambassadors competition, the organization’s flagship programme, has unearthed some new and interesting elements, about how a challenge/disability must be defined - and has opened up some new areas of thought, for the Foundation’s membership on ideas that can be implemented, to improve the conditions that he disabled now live under.
Managing Director of the Foundation Maia Chung announced that the Foundation’s membership, the sponsors and the judges are pleased that another successful staging of that event was able to take place…with the economic downturn worsening and severely affecting the Foundation’s functions as donations have dwindled.
The event is fully sponsor funded and resourced.
This year’s prizes amount to just about a quarter of a million dollars.
The winners will receive personal computers, computers for their schools, BlackBerrys, CSEC scholarships, trophies.
The mentor of the overall winner will receive cash and a trophy as well.
The overall winner will also receive an autographed copy of the newly released book Maia’s Journal published by LMH publishers, one of the MCADF’s tools developed to raise funds for the Foundation’s outreach work among its clients.
Ambassadorial requirements were that entrants be between 12 to 19 years old to qualify to be competitors. The entrants to win their prizes had to volunteer and work among the disabled between the months of January to April.
The competitors, throughout their work are guided by a mentor, be it a pastor, teacher or guidance counselor.
Contestants had to create awareness projects and or events geared to their community, school or church environment; to spur positive attitudes towards the disabled as well as write an essay about a disability of their choice… that showed what their ideas on the disabled are about.
The activities of the competitors are photographed and videoed to provided evidence of enactment, and submitted as a part of the requirements of the contest.
Sponsors this year are LIME, Super Plus Food Stores, Patron of the MCADF Senator Norman Grant, Kwasi Tinglin, the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, Jablum Coffee and LMH Publishers and the Golden Child Music Group based in the United States.
Autism is one of a group of serious developmental problems called autism spectrum disorders that appear in early childhood — usually before age 3.
Though symptoms and severity vary, all autism spectrum disorders affect a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.
The number of children diagnosed with autism appears to be rising globally.
It's not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting of autism or a real increase in the number of cases or both.
While there is no cure for autism, intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children with the disorder.
Contact MCADF – 350-0465
Email:mcautismfoundation@gmail.com
