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| The Bai Chay Bridge and the Sun Wheel at Sun World Halong Complex in Quang Ninh Province are glowing in blue to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day – PHOTOS: LINH GIANG |
This is the third year in a row that Sun Group has joined hands with Autism Speaks to implement this meaningful event, according to a statement of Sun Group.
The blue light, which is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), once again lit up the Nhat Tan Bridge, the Sun Grand City Thuy Khue Residence and the Sun Grand City Ancora Residence buildings in Hanoi; the Bai Chay Bridge, the Sun Wheel at Sun World Halong Complex in Quang Ninh Province; the Sun Wheel at the Asia Park and the Novotel Danang Premier Han River in Danang City, aimed at spreading the message of hope, compassion toward the autism community as well as raising autism awareness and promoting autism acceptance.
On April 2 every year, thousands of buildings, schools, and landmarks around the world including the Empire State building in New York, the Chenghuang Pavilion in mainland China, and the Opera House in Sydney are lit up with blue, to raise awareness about individuals with autism and their families.
In Vietnam, a host of organizations and individuals have also acted for the autism community over the past years.
As for Sun Group, it has celebrated this day in a little different way this year by calling for localities, whose facilities’ lighting system was invested by Sun Group, to light up the properties with blue during three days, instead of one day on April 2 as it did before.
Bui Thi Thanh Huong, general director of Sun Group, said that aside from difficulties in communicating and learning, public awareness about ASD is one of the biggest obstacles for autistic people. By lighting up tourists attractions and landmarks of Sun Group blue on this occasion, the Group hoped that the whole society will join hands to raise autism awareness and promote acceptance.
H., a mother of an autistic child, said: “I am really moved seeing the blue light being lit up on landmarks in Hanoi. This proves that we are cared and we are not alone on the journey to cope with autism. I hope that when more people are aware of people with autism, autistic individuals will no longer suffer from discrimination and will be treated with respect and be accepted as part of the society.”
According to data of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2020, one in 54 people is diagnosed with ASD. In Vietnam, an exact number of people with autism is not available, but data of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in 2019 revealed that around 200,000 Vietnamese people developed ASD symptoms. Further, the number of local children visiting the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital for medical checkup and treatment linked to autism is on the rise.
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| The Sun Wheel at the Asia Park |
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| The Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi – PHOTO: NGUYEN LINH GIANG |
