Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Friday 24 January 2020

Investigation Autism Awareness in Aruba highlighted during conference in Hawaii:

FAA research: how do families cope with ASD

ORANJESTAD — Fundacion Autismo Aruba is ready to
launch another important investigation to help improve
the inclusion of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder,
ASD. The Family Situation research follows a successful
investigation on the awareness level of the Aruban society
regarding ASD.

Results of the 2019 Aruban survey on Autism Awareness
were recently highlighted during the Hawaii International
Conference on Education. The presentation was led by
Ms. Lizeth Alcantar of Coastal Carolina University, who
along with Mr. Matthew Eichenlaub conducted the study
on the level of awareness regarding Autism Spectrum
Disorder in Aruba. Ms. Alcantar and Mr. Eichenlaub
from the Public Health Department of Coastal Carolina
University of South Carolina were in Aruba in 2019 for their
internship at the Fundacion Autismo Aruba, FAA. They,
under the guidance of FAA board member, Ms. Carolina Fundacion Autismo Aruba or by email fundacion_autismoaruba@yahoo.com.q
Span, executed the research to measure the level of
awareness of the local community of Aruba, on the topic
of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The research was part of the
advocacy plan of FAA.
Ms. Alcantar together with help from Dr. Royce of the
Public Health department of Coastal Carolina University
and Ms. Span from FAA, decided to make the research
the topic of her Honor’s Thesis for her bachelor’s degree
in Public Health. The thesis is titled Autism Spectrum
Disorder Inclusivity in Aruba and concluded that the
research showed the moderately high level of awareness
that Aruba’s adult population has on ASD as well as their
knowledge and beliefs. However, a limitation is that the
Aruban population does not know how to interact with
children or individuals with ASD.
Impressed by Ms. Alcantar’s work and the research
conducted by FAA, Ms. Alcantar together with Dr.
Royce were invited to the 2020 Hawaii International
Conference on Education. Ms. Alcantar was asked to
present the findings during presentation her presentation
titled Measuring Knowledge and Awareness to Inform
Education Strategies for ASD Inclusivity in Aruba.
Fundacion Autismo Aruba is extremely proud to see the
findings of this very important research be presented
during an international conference in Hawaii. FAA’s main
focus for the coming years will be to achieve the inclusion
of individuals with ASD in the local school system and the
community as a whole. We are off to a great start!

New research
In order to continue to gather important data to continue
to work towards inclusion FAA is launching the next
research in survey form titled “Family Situation of Children
& Individuals with ASD”. This research’s focus group are
parents and other family members close to children and
individuals with ASD.
The survey will open on January 23rd and will close on
February 24th. Students from the University of Aruba,
Elida Arteaga, Natasha Matai, Gislaine Martijn, Joshua
van Spaandonk and Stephanie Richardson will be
assisting in the collection of the data and will also plan an
informational event for all relevant stakeholders.
To complete the survey in English please visit https://www.
surveymonkey.com/r/ASDfamily

More information can be found on their facebook page