ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) conducted its monthly Executive Committee Meeting of the year on Thursday, December 15, 2022. The meeting was held online and this time, it was talking about the upcoming project, including the main proposal for the future AAN project, as well their country monthly progress reports.
The meeting started with each country gave their opinion about “ASEAN Autism Mapping (AAM) Phase 2” proposal. The proposal was from “JAIF Project Proposal” with the title called, “Realization of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 for Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Persons with Autism in the ASEAN Region.”
Ms. Candy Tolosa explained the concept note of its proposal, as well the needs within’ the budget, in order for the continuation of the project, as well to aid in the handover of AAM Phase 2 tasks to AAN Secretariat Indonesia, based on the proposal that provided by Mr. Somchai Rungsilp. Then, Mr. Cason Ong talked about the funding, and asked if ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) also provides funding for “ASEAN Autism Mapping (AAM) Phase 1” while it was spearheaded by APCD. Then, Mr. Somchai stated that APCD is not funded by ASEC. Mr. Somchai also talked about the budget and the activities during the AAM Phase 1.
Mr. Somchai Rungsilp, from APCD discussed about the JAIF Project Proposal part 2, Mr. Somchai said that they would like to continue to consider after some documents have been sent, including the KL Congress. Ms. Supaanong (NuNu) Panyasirimongkol, from APCD gave an advice that the proposal of AAM Phase 2 should be done as quick as possible. Mr. Somchai also stated that in the proposal, they can put 10 to 15 percent (10-15%) of the budget photo to submit to the secretariat, so that AAN Secretariat can deadline support from the project with the 10-15% of the total budget.
Ms. Sharifah Ayla Surya binti Malai Haji Abdullah (Ayla Didi), from SMARTER Brunei asked if the AAM Phase 2 budgeting is only for one-year or a multi-year basis. Mr. Somchai answered that it will be 2-3 years, therefore they agreed for a multi-year basis. Ms. Ayla Didi also provided the reports that initially, SMARTER Brunei will conduct their autism awareness activities during April 2023, but it will be postponed due to Ramadan month and Eid holidays. Ms. Ayla also stated that SMARTER Brunei also has an active partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Sports through a mid-year conference and exhibition, as well collaborations with ambassadors and embassies from Canada, USA, and UK.
Mr. Nay Myo Naing, from Myanmar Autism Association (MAA) asked that it would be useful if Mr Syvang Xayyavong to develop the proposal, if they know the budget threshold rough figure for each AAM Phase 2’s projects. Mr. Somchai, and Ms. NuNu responded that it will depend on the activities of respective countries. Mr. Nay expressed gratitude to AAN for exempting MAA from membership fees collection. Mr. Nay also reported that MAA has started a youth club to train young adults in the spectrum to learn independent life skills, as well the other projects in the country. As for the country’s situation it is still unwell and unstable. Therefore, there are plenty of challenges for MAA including funding difficulties and restricted freedom of movement and association. Mr. Somchai understood Mr. Nay’s situation and limitations.
Ms. Dang Koe, from Autism Society of Philippines asked if AAM Phase 2’s activities can be proposed with the kind of uniform among all the members of AAN organization. Then, Ms. Candy responded that some countries still need to catch up and to do that they can duplicate other countries’ activities / best practices to follow the good examples. Next, Ms. Ayla Didi gave suggest to localize the best practices, as well that they should have a room for localization of AAM Phase 2 projects and activities. Then, Mr. Cason Ong said that AAN could compile reports of best practices and activities pertaining to stage 1 and 2 of AAM Phase 2 as benchmark. Later on, Ms. Dang Koe added that some of each member country’s activity reports should be listed down with more detail under the “Program Services,” in terms of raising the public awareness. Then, followed by Ms. Ayla gave a suggestion that if they have a “Set of Structure” for the expectation of the report in terms of programmes and services, then if they compile, and do the analysis on the same format as well, they can follow through the compilation and analyse easily, so that it saves more time. Ms. Dang Koe reported that all ASP chapters have reinstated and they have also returned to do the face-to-face Christmas parties after 2 years. Ms. Dang Koe stated that due to the Christmas season, ASP chapters have also been approached by different companies as a part of their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), and ASP chapters respond by offering sensitivity training to make a better handle for their future employees that include handling, people or situations involving those on the spectrum. ASP wishes to build partnerships with companies to accommodate and appreciate adults on the spectrum.
Then, Mr. Somchai gave 4 activities stage of AAM Phase 2, including raising public awareness about ASD and disabilities at community, national and international level, improving the detection and diagnosis quality for early intervention of Persons with Autism (PwA) in the ASEAN, promote economic empowerment for persons on the spectrum, and empower international self-advocates with ASD via AAN collaboration. Later on, Mr. Somchai Rungsilp gave a feedback to support of each other in the project, and discuss very often which country is weak and strong, so that they could share the lessons learn or good practices from one to another country. Since AAN cannot do the all 4 stages at the same time, Mr. Somchai proposed to identify the needs and situations of each member country to “fill up the gap,” and make sure all member countries’ situations are well and improved. Next, In addition that Timor Leste has become official member of ASEAN recently, Mr. Cason Ong proposed to extend AAN’s reach to contact AAN’s counterpart in Timor Leste. Additionally, while APCD has no contact with Timor Leste autism organization yet, Ms. NuNu has contacted with the PwD organization in Timor Leste, but not an autism-specific organization yet. Mr. Somchai requested all AAN members to view, check, and comment the project proposal of Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), as well they could have the small group of discussion, draft more in details, and propose the details in order for the proposal can be discussed and identified before the monthly meeting. Ms. Candy proposed that they will create the Google Drive folder first and compile the activities from each member country for the AAM Phase 2. Later on, Ms. Candy asked Ms. NuNu to share the proposals, and templates of AAM Phase 1, followed by the discussion of fundraising from all AAN members. Mr. Somchai proposed that AAN Secretariat could support the fundraising committee chairperson, and added to create a working group. Mr. Somchai suggested that at the last state, they had to come to come to approve by all 10 countries, but to discuss it with the small group.
Dr. Samrerng (Sam) Virachanang from Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism (AU-Thai) gave suggestion to go ahead with the working group, including timetable, what they achieved and not achieved, weakness and successful factors. Dr. Sam also added the suggestion to expand the target groups, and considering for the future members of AAN’s main theme that would like to apply and join the AAM Phase 2. Then, it was followed by Mr. Somchai giving the schedules for the next month project, including the AAM Phase 2 with the reports from each country, etc. Dr. Sam gave the reports that AU-Thai will have on-site meetings with the Ministry of Social Development and Improvement of Security as requested by their director general of the concerned department. Also have meetings with the Ministry of Education concerning inclusive education. AU-Thai will continue with their autism empowerment programs and social enterprise career training (Art Story, Coffee for All) as usual. Dr. Sam also discussed about the group home that he has ever discussed with Ms. Pham Thi Kim Tam before. Dr. Sam also said that AU-Thai also plans to teach independent skills for adults on the spectrum in case if the parents cannot support them anymore, and empower autism self-advocates as their new pillar projects.
Mr. Frederik (Iki) Rotty, from Yayasan Autisma Indonesia (YAI) said that he has a busy schedule, and reluctantly has to postpone the country report from YAI as the result.
Ms. Pham Thi Kim Tam, from Vietnam Autism Network (VAN) reported that in the last 2 months (November, and December), they prepared some of the activities for children, and teachers for Christmas events. As for the country situation, the Vietnamese government will issue a new law pertaining to PwDs next month, and VAN collects the recommendations from parents, and plans to send policy recommendations regarding this issue to the government. For the group home, Ms. Tham wishes to go to Bangkok, and requests a learning lesson from Dr. Sam’s sample.
Mr. Syvang Xayyavong, from Association for Autism in Lao PDR (AfA) reported that AfA and Ms. Viengsam Indavong have developed a concept for AAM, cooperated with the Ministry of Social Welfare and other organizations on a forum to discuss, and the participates of the disability people can involve for the development. And, Mr. Syvang said that they made a proposal for a new AfA / AAN Lao PDR centre in Vientiane with the government still on consideration.
Mr. Cason Ong, from NASOM gave an ensure to Ms. Candy and Ms. NuNu to give them a summary on the AAM Phase 1, what they need for the AAM Phase 2, and then they might be can add more items and details into it, so that they learn more on how to execute the AAM Phase 2. Mr. Cason discussed about the “Walk for Autism 2023,” and wished for the committees to do it simultaneously to show ASEAN for the solidarity between AAN executive member countries as one entity, then to save for Myanmar due to their restriction and still-chaotic situation. Mr. Cason said that Malaysia will hold the event in March since April coincides with Ramadan and Eid holidays. Mr. Cason and NASOM also planned to meet and draw up the plans with the new government representatives in January 2023 to engage, and support their organizations with them on Malaysian PwA issues and held discussions with companies for CSR in order to empower the economic sectors for Malaysian young adults on the spectrum. Mr. Cason also said that their big goal is to have the strong group for the adults, and planned with the other member countries to approach the companies and government to help for vocational, training, and identify the applicable jobs to the children when they become adult.
Last but not least, Mr. Somchai proposed that if the country members could not join, they should send some representatives to join in order to have less burdens for AAN Secretariat to send the news or something. Ms. NuNu also asked for the annual report to be sent as soon as possible.
Here are the group photos of AAN Executive Committee Meeting on 15 December 2022, the last AAN Executive Committee Meeting in 2022.
