Page 13 - DAGA Chair Report RY2018-20

WHAT DO WE DO?

DAGA’s mission is to provide support in the areas of advocacy, resources, and activities
to the autism community while promoting awareness, acceptance and inclusion of
ASD to maximize the potential and quality of life of persons with ASD and their families.
Our four pillars are Advocating Awareness, Connecting Communities, Bridging the Gap
and Empowering Individuals and are carried out through the following pathways:

a. educating and empowering teachers, parents, caregivers and other stakeholders by
providing a best practice guide to the screening, assessment, and intervention for
school-age children on ASD through our education, training and support

programmes;

b. cultivating acceptance & inclusiveness by increasing public awareness about ASD
through information, awareness, and advocacy campaigns; and

c. assisting community organisation to carry out autism-related projects by providing

the necessary knowledge, expertise and resources.

Our effort in promoting inclusion for the autism community is evidenced by a series of
Public Forums organised by DAGA and the 1st Rotary National Conference on Autism &
Inclusion culminated to a report. The report presented to the Ministry of Women & Com-
munity Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the National Autism
Society of Malaysia is to pave a way forward in streamlining efforts in advocating
inclusion in support of children and young adults with ASD. We also continue to engage
and work with the government and legislators as a catalyst in promoting inclusion.

The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Global Grant supported our first program, which benefited
over 3,000 teachers, primary caregivers, and parents. TRF recently approved another
Global Grant led by Rotary Club of Cheras and their sister club Rotary Club of Yuan Lin
Central D3462 Taiwan as international host club, Rotary Club of Dhaka Royal D3281
Dhaka, Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills D9685 Melbourne & Rotary Club of e-Club D3310
Singapore as international partners and working with other D3300 Rotary clubs to out-

reach parents and providing them support in managing their children with ASD.

WHAT CAN YOUR ROTARY CLUB DO?

We wish to go beyond simply promoting autism awareness and inclusion by
ourselves to encouraging Rotary Clubs to become partners of this nationwide effort
that falls within Rotary’s’ six area of focus. We welcome your Rotary Club to partner

us in organising Autism Related Projects as one of your club’s community service
projects. Every single Autism Related Project organised by your club can make a
measurable difference in our effort to increase public awareness about autism and
achieve a better outreach throughout Malaysia especially in the rural and outskirts.
Autism Related Projects include (a) Early Intervention Training (b) Public Awareness
on Autism and (c) Assistance/Resources on TRF Global Grant Application.