The ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง (๐๐๐) is one with the nation in commemorating the ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ค with the theme, “๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ” to be held from 14 to 20 January 2024.
“This annual observance was made possible by President Fidel Ramos’ Proclamation 711 of 1996 โ in inspiring genuine and organic acceptance, accommodation, and appreciation of persons on the autism spectrum in our society and our global community.
The activities of the week promote action by the public and private sectors towards enabling persons on the autism spectrum to live with dignity, enjoy equal rights and access, function independently, and contribute productively. Society should strive beyond โconsciousnessโ or โawarenessโ and inspire genuine inclusion — through acceptance, accommodation, and appreciation! Public and private institutions are encouraged to spearhead creative activities, events, and programs, toward building opportunities for our neurodiverse population, all over the country.
Read more about the NACW 2024 Game Plan for the week at: https://bit.ly/NACW2024-gameplan. This is a live document that continues to be revised as additional inputs are receives from advocates from all over the country.
This year’s theme, “Accessible Education and Economic Empowerment for Pinoys on the Autism Spectrum” — is consistent with the global disability communityโs aspirations expressed by the United Nations during the last International Day of Persons with Disability:
โGiven the multiple crises we are facing today, the world is not on track to reach numerous Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets by 2030. Preliminary findings from the forthcoming UN Disability and Development Report 2023 indicate that the world is even more off-track in meeting several SDGs for persons with disabilities.
Our efforts to rescue the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities, need to be intensified and accelerated, given that persons with disabilities have historically been marginalized and have often been among those left furthest behind.โ
A fundamental shift in commitment, solidarity, financing and action is critical. Encouragingly, with the adoption of the Political Declaration of the recent SDG Summit, world leaders have recommitted themselves to achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity for all, by focusing on policies and actions that target the poorest and most vulnerable, including persons with disabilities.โ
The theme intends to:
1. nurture partnerships between the government and the private sector to realize accessible education and economic empowerment for Filipinos on the autism spectrum โ consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #4 and #8.
2. inspire disability inclusion among like-minded national, local and community thought leaders who create policy and provide services for Filipinos on the autism spectrum and those who care for themโ consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #10.
3. grow a community of allies within the country, the region and the rest of the world, supportive of programs towards genuine disability inclusion — consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #10 and #17.”