Due to the merits of her contribution to
successful practices that promote the complete progress and the inclusion of
people with disabilities in society.
The Government of Panamá
awarded Dr. Liliana Mayo, PhD, founder and general director of the Center Ann
Sullivan of Perú(CASP), with the order “Maria Ossa de Amador” in the degree
of “Big Medal Award” for her guidance in the steps undertaken so that the
Center Ann Sullivan Panamá(CASPAN) becomes a reality.
“Her
work of love and excellence transcends the limits of her homeland and proudly
germinates towards the promotion of human rights and the dignity ofpersons with intellectual disabilities and
their families, in particular”, expressed the first lady of Panamá, Mrs. Martha
Linares de Martinelli, after conferring this distinction to Dr. Mayo.
“Today,
on behalf of the national government and the people of Panamá, we want to
recognize the contribution of this distinguished Peruvian psychologist to the
development of successful practices and experiences that promote the full
development and total inclusion of people with autism into society,” she added.
The
ceremony took place the past 31st of May during the inaugurationof CASPAN, with the presence of the nation´s
president, Ricardo Martinelli, representatives of the diplomatic corps,the ministerial cabinet in full and
authorities of that country.
In the ceremony the first
lady of Panamá, gestor of CASPAN, explained that after a strenuous worldwide
investigational tour throughoutseveral
specialized educational centers for children with autism, in 2010 she visited
CASP and she was astounded on its educational program, which besides giving
therapy to the students, it trains the youngsters to reinsert them into the
working force, this being the big difference with the rest of entities they
visited.
“We are contributing to cement sucess in these
boys and girls, together with the commitmentof each family of accompanying them and giving them support. From the
office I am honored to lead, we do not skimp efforts so that the so longed
yearning answer gets through to all”, pointed out the First Lady.
The Center Ann Sullivan of Panamá(CASPAN) will
start attending 35 students among boys, girls and youngsters with autism from
birth to 18 years of age, with the programs of Early Education, Inclusion to
life and Intensive School of Families.
Up to today´s date,
aproximately 200 applications for admission to CASPAN have been presented,
which will be attended progressively.80% of the applying families come from areas of scarce economic
resources
It is good to remember that since the 15th of
May, Dr. Rosa Oyama, Director of
Proyects and Investigation Area
of the Center Ann Sullivan of Peru(CASP); and Dr. Elena Lazarte,
Director of Inclusion to Life Area of the Center Ann Sullivan del Perú(CASP),
have trained and given guidance to the panamenian classroom specialists which
will provide their services in the Center Ann Sullivan Panama(CASPAN) which
will follow the model of the Ann Sullivan of Perú.
Inauguration of
Centro Ann Sullivan de Panamá (CASPAN) counted with the presence of Liliana
Mayo, Ph.D as the special guest of the First Lady.
This Thursday, May 31, the First Lady
of the Republic of Panama, Marta Martinelli de Linares, inaugurated the Centro
Ann Sullivan de Panamá (CASPAN), the first centre of its kind in the country
for the education of people with different abilities, based on the successful
model of the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú (CASP).
This ceremony counted with the
presence of the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal, government
authorities, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country,
representatives of organizations related to the subject of autism, and Dr. Liliana
Mayo, founder of CASP and special guest of the First Lady.
“We are helping to set
the stage for these children’s success, and the commitment made by each family to
accompany them and give them support. From the Office I have the honor to lead,
we spare no efforts to ensure that all these children receive this education",
said the First Lady.
During the ceremony, on behalf of the
national government and the Panamanian people, the First Lady decorated Yolanda
Liliana Mayo, Director of Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú, with the Order of Maria
Ossa de Amador in the degree of "Grand Medal of Merit", for advising
us on steps we took to ensure that Centro Ann
Sullivan Panamá becomes reality and in recognition of her contribution to the
development of practices and successful experiences that promote the full
inclusion of people with autism into society . She mentioned, “Her work with
children with disabilities and excellence transcends the borders of her country
while promoting human rights and dignity for people with intellectual
disabilities and their families, in particular".
This Project is part of the Government
of Panama’s commitment to the people with different abilities in its country
and, to make it reality, the First Lady, Marta Martinelli de Linares, visited
many countries until she finally chose the Peruvian model of CASP after proving
that its standards of quality and success had as a result a large number of
people happily included, with great capacity for work and totally independent and
productive both for their families and for Peruvian society.