The Grahamstown Foundation switched on a blue light at 1820 Settlers National Monument on Friday 1 April in support of Autism Awareness Month.
The Grahamstown Foundation switched on a blue light at 1820 Settlers National Monument on Friday 1 April in support of Autism Awareness Month.
2 April was the 8th annual World Autism Day. The light will shine for the duration of April, as was done in 2015. There is also a large blue ribbon mounted on the 1820 Monument that will be up for the entire month.
The Grahamstown foundation chose to do this in response to a request from Autism South Africa (ASA) for local and national landmarks to take part in this initiative.
ASA is an organisation which “aspires to achieving a society in which persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) enjoy all the rights and opportunities to meet their needs and fulfil their potentials, throughout their lives, as loved and valued members of their families and communities”.
“We represent other causes as well, but I think autism is a cause that needs to be put in the public consciousness and we are in a position where we are able to do that.” comments executive director of the Grahamstown Foundation, Louisa Clayton.
