Invited by principal
activists of the Autism Speaks Organization based in USA, and having important
world-wide leaders present, health care experts and autism awareness impulse
givers, the First Lady of the Republic of Panama, Martha Linares de Martinelli
expressed while sharing the successful model of assistance and Education
applied in the Ann Sullivan Center of Panamá (CASPAN) provided for girls, boys
and teenagers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
The
presentation of Linares de Martinelli is given on occasion of the 6th
Annual World Meeting of Autism, celebrated each year on the framework of the
United Nations General Assembly on the World Forum that gathers presidents and
chief of states.
“The Ann
Sullivan Center of Panamá (CASPAN) has already one year and four months of
creation, and I feel happy and optimistic with its results. Ever since its
first day of opening on the 31st of May, it is changing the lives of
families in Panama, especially those with little economic resources”, expressed
Panama’s First Lady.
Through
Executive Decree, Panamá celebrates April as ”Autism Month”, dedicating special
attention to creating awareness and consciousness about the consequences that
brings autism to whom they suffer it, but mostly we emphasize in expressing
solidarity with these girls, boys and youngsters.
Also explained
that the key of success in the actual process of learning and teaching is the
result of applying the Natural Funcional Curriculum , method designed so
students learn the necessary behaviors and skills to be able to work in the
future, in regular working environments, so as to be independent in their daily
lives.
To guarantee
their quality, the CASPAN Staff is being trained and assessed by experts from
the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú (CASP), in the technical, educational,
administrative and Management Areas as well.
The Centro
Ann Sullivan of Panamá, which began with recruiting 35 cases (the most severe
ones), attends during the school period 2013 a total of 123 students. Also benefited
from the CASPAN service attention, are minors with down syndrome.
“A great step
we are making towards helping kids and youngsters with their condition of
autism and severe cognitive deficiencies”, said the First Lady of Panama, “is
the getting started of the Intensive School of Families, which will begin to
operate the second trimester of the elective year 2013, in the provinces of
Chiriquí, Herrera and Los Santos”.
The First
Lady of the Republic of Panamá, Marta Linares de Martinelli, also mentioned “the technological advances that CASPAN is experiencing, and in that sense,
worthwhile mentioning are the specially putting
into function of the Virtual Classroom, which allow that students maximize
their positive social skills, of communication and team work. To be able to
accomplish this, we are counting with adapted technology, interactive panel, a
special adapted helpful table with technology for the sensory-perceptive
stimulation of our students, among others”.
“Other
positive aspects and that were very highly valued by the people present in this
6th World annual Meeting of
Autism, was to know that CASPAN counts with the support of a Foundation, which
makes it (CASPAN) sustainable through time. Same is the making of the first
survey of autism in Panama, which will allow a better guidance of decision
making policies and better the service rendering to this population in need”.
It is important to indicate that the First Lady of the Republic of Panama, Marta Linares de Martinelli, opened the Centro Ann Sullivan of Panama (CASPAN), which is the first center created in this Central American country for the education of people with different abilities, and which is based on the successful model of its similar in Perú, Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú,( CASP), who are working already 34 years with more than 450 people with different abilities and training their families, to help them, as a team, to achieve the CASP Goal: To make them Independent, Productive, and Happy.
Source: Web Home Page of the National Government of
the Republic of Panama September
26th, 2013