Jom Baca 10 Minit Programme For Autistic Children

Pauh Putra, 25 April – The Perlis Jom Baca 10 Minit (Let's Read for 10 Minutes) Programme with special needs children in conjunction with Austism Awareness Programme 2016 is hoped to inspire reading habit among the community.
The programme organised by Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Autism – Hub for Educational Resources and Training (A-HEART) and the Perlis Public Library Corporation was held at the Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Library (PTSFP) Auditorium.
A-HEART coordinator who is also the UniMAP Head Librarian Mazmin Mat Akhir said that April is both Autism Awareness Month and Reading Month which presented the opportunity for both agencies to raise public awareness on the importance of the education of autistic children.
“The Perlis Public Library Corporation and A-HEART will continue its commitment to focus on the aptitude development of austistic children with the support of various agencies in Perlis and Malaysia.
“A-HEART's focus is extremely clear in educating and raising awareness and understanding among the public concerning autism and this programme is one of its initiative,” he said during the Autism Awareness Programme.
Also gracing the event with her presence was Raja Puan Muda Perlis Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil also the UniMAP Pro Chancellor and patron of A-HEART.
Also present was State Secretary Tuan Ahmad Zamri Khairuddin and the Director of the Perlis Public Library Corporation Machita Othman.
The Jom Baca 10 Minit Programme was initiated in 2014 as a measure to instil the love of reading in society and was launched statewide today.
A book entitled Chicken Soup for the Soul, contributed by the Perlis Public Library Corporation, was used for the programme with the participation of nearly 15 autistic children and guided by A-HEART and Perlis Special Education Service Centre volunteers.
Previously, a Bicara Buku (Book Discussion) slot was held discussing Aku Bersyukur Anakku Autisme (I Am Thankful for my Autistic Child) by Dr Wan Nasyrudin Wan Abdullah, the senior lecturer for the Department of Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Studies, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); and a lecture was delivered by Paul Conrathe who founded his first school for autistic children in London in 2004.
Mr. Conrathe is also the Proprietor and the Managing Director of SEN Ltd and Eagle House Group United Kingdom.