World Autism Awareness Day: The Saint-Louis Social Inclusion Centre "gives a voice to those who perceive the world with a unique intensity"

Since 2007, World Autism Awareness Day has been celebrated on April 2nd each year, with the aim of promoting the rights and freedoms of autistic people, raising public awareness, fighting prejudice and promoting the inclusion of these intellectually disabled people in all areas of life.

It is in this spirit that Khady Diallo, director of the Saint-Louis Social Inclusion Centre (CISSL), sends a powerful message: "Autism, beyond the silence, is another way of existing." For Ms. Diallo, "April 2nd is not just a date, it's a rallying cry."

“Today,” she continues, “we are not celebrating a disease; we are giving voice to those who perceive the world with a unique intensity,” she specifies, without failing to invite everyone to “radically transform the way we look at what is too often, wrongly, called an inevitability.”

It is also important to remember that autism is not an illness, but a unique neurological condition that affects how a person perceives and interacts with the world. It is a difference in brain development that can influence communication, social interactions, and behavior.

"It is time to sweep away prejudices and fight against the isolation of autistic children and their families. Every wall of misunderstanding torn down is a door to autonomy and dignity," she emphasizes.

As a reminder, the CISSL welcomes children and young adults with Down syndrome, autism or living with a mild disability, and offers individualized support to stimulate their potential.