FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2015
World Autism Awareness Day & Month Bell Ringing Ceremony at the Jamaica Stock Exchange
(KINGSTON, April 2, 2015): The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Jamaica Autism Support Association partnered to mark World Autism Awareness Day and Month with a Bell Ringing Ceremony today to signal the opening of trade on the Stock market.
This important occasion saw in attendance Miss Jamaica Universe 2014 Kaci Fennel, Mrs. Samantha Chanterelle Executive Director, Digicel Foundation and Mrs. Sarah Newland Martin, General Secretary, Kingston YMCA.
Mrs. Street Forrest, General Manager of the JSE, in her welcoming remarks stated that “We are indeed honoured that Jamaica Autism Support Association considered it fit to share its activities with us. We support your deep commitment and effort in raising awareness for Autism”. Mrs. Street Forrest also noted that, “There is an integral link between companies and your organization. The more companies that are involved, the more persons are aware of your work and the easier the journey. At many different levels companies can raise awareness and assist in improving the welfare of all those who are one way or another affected by Autism. This is where the element of corporate social responsibility and relationship is made alive.”
Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughn, Professor of Child Health, Child Development & Behaviour at the University Hospital, who was the guest speaker, shared some revealing statistics with the audience. Professor Samms-Vaughn stated that “about 1 in 68 children have an autism spectrum disorder. This means that 580 of the 39,350 children born in Jamaica each year will have autism.” She went on to highlight that, “Because this condition is 4-5 times more common in boys, 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls will have an autism spectrum disorder. This means that approximately 470 Jamaican boys and 105 Jamaican girls will be born with this condition each year.”
Mrs. Jean Lowrie-Chin, Chairman, Digicel Foundation, informed the audience that ” last year, the USA’s center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 1 in 68 children (or 14.7 per 1,000 eight year-olds) in multiple communities in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Local experts believe that the proportions would be similar for Jamaica and this means that we need to continue our effort to build awareness and support programmes throughout our country”.
Mrs. Lowrie-Chin stated that “the Digicel Foundation has committed to building 10 Centres of Excellence for special needs, seven of which have already been completed. By the end of this year, Digicel will have invested US$3.8 million in Special needs, thanks to our Patron Dennis O’Brien. We hold very dear the mandate of the Digicel Foundation to ensure that citizens with Special Needs are given both the support and the opportunities to participate in all spheres of life. By using this bell ringing ceremony to mark World Autism Awareness Day, the Jamaica Stock Exchange and Jamaica Autism Support Association are in unison, making a loud and clear statement”.
CONTACT:
NEVILLE ELLIS
JAMAICA STOCK EXCHANGE
TEL: (876) 967-3271
FAX: (876) 924-909
