IN her own way, Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Des Dahino joined the observance of the 30th Autism Consciousness Week by being the guest speaker at City Central School in a seminar for parents of children with autism.
“Because parenting seminars like this are not just about comfort. They are about awareness, preparation, and equipping families with the right knowledge,” Dahino said. “Many years ago, in my early years as a teacher, I encountered a mother raising a child with autism. That experience stayed with me. Not as moment of sympathy, but as a clear reminder that parents 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨, 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚-𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩.”
“This is why I choose to lead conversations like this. When parents are informed, children are better supported and communities grow stronger,” she added.
The observance this year, slated from Jan. 19 to 25, banners the theme Mula Kamalayan Tungo sa Gawa: Pag-unlad ng Autism-OK Philippines. The theme serves as a call to action to move beyond disability awareness raising by creating concrete, sustained, and inclusive actions to ensure that individuals on the autism spectrum can fully participate in society and live dignified lives.
