A blue afternoon at Plaza Congreso | The commemoration …

Blue, another year, filled the streets of Buenos Aires and the world to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day. "There are times when the blue is bright and calm like the sea on a summer day, and at other times, the blue darkens and dissipates like a sea of ​​storm. this is what happens to people and families who take this route with so many challenges, "explained families of self-proclaimed autistic children from the TGD Parents TEA group about the painted color of historic buildings and monuments around the world whole. . On April 2, in front of Plaza del Congreso, an act and a mobilization were organized to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder and to fight for a better quality of life in a more informed and less discriminating society.

The crowd dressed in blue began to arrive after 15:30. While parents were counseling on the many faces of autism, boys – and not so young – took advantage of the afternoon sun to paint, draw, jump on the trampoline or pose for the photo while they were sitting on a skateboard while blue cloth he wrapped like a wave.

"We want to raise awareness of the reality we live in. It is a physically invisible condition and our children are often judged by people who do not understand what they are going through," said Claudia of TGD Padres TEA. "We want society to understand that people with autism have the same rights to schooling, to social life and to the world of work," he added.

The meeting was organized by TGD Parents TEA and participated in other organizations such as the Argentinean Association of Autistic Parents, the Otzma Therapeutic Cultural Center and the Brincar Foundation. "It is important for society to learn to recognize differences and to find beauty in these differences.Lose fear because information is the first way to help autistic people who have so much to contribute," said PáginaI12 , Soledad Zangroniz, founding mother and vice-president of Fundación Brincar, working to improve the quality of life of autism

As the last workshops and recreational games ended, the countdown began from the stage and kicked off the central act. Arms and blue balloons in the air, many sang and danced to the sound of music, while others plugged their ears or fled.

After an institutional video in which several TGD Parents TEA members emphasized the need for "inclusive education, skilled professionals and a society that is not afraid of autism" , the series of jokes began and was celebrated with laughter. for the crowd.

"We came here specifically to request that all the corresponding therapies be guaranteed, because very few of them cover social work," said Gabriela, who went to the march with her son Ciro, 7 years old.

Emilio, father of a 13 year old autistic boy, had arrived the same morning from Río Gallegos for a medical study that he could not perform there due to lack of equipment. "We want people to know what they're dealing with, to stop looking at them in a weird way, or treat them as spoiled because of their behavior," Emilio said.

Lucas, a nine-year-old boy with autism and hearing loss, stood on one side of the stage, holding his parents' hand. "This is the first time we participate in the walk.We want us to know that it is not a disease, but a different condition of life." "said her mother, Soledad, who said she was accumulating several nights of grief and anguish, but that she was making great strides through good treatments.

The act, which ended with a walk around the square, was followed by several groups. Among them, that of Iván, a 19-year-old autistic young man who, 5 and a half years ago, formed a group. "Today, they are witnessing that autism does not suspend the real development of people, it is in the fortresses that we must support", encouraged since the scene Ricardo, the father of Ivan.