2024-04-05 05:16:24
With a Day Center for people on the autism spectrum, the Association for the Protection of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder “Estia” seeks to strengthen its structures, which sets as a major goal the establishment of Supported Living Homes.
On the occasion of the World Autism Day, which is celebrated every year on April 2, the “Estia” Association, in collaboration with the Region of Epirus and the Ioannina HEN, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 3, at 7.30 pm, in the hall of “Archbishop Spyridon” in Zosimaia of the Academy of Education, organizes an information and awareness event entitled “Dancing for Autism”, while today he distributed informational material to the citizens who were on the pedestrian street of Melanidi.
Through these actions, the Region of Epirus continues to be a helper in the efforts of the Association, to which it has granted free space for the accommodation of the KDAP for people with autism, in Kardamitsia, as stated by the authorized regional advisor and external partner of the Association Margarita Gogaki .
“With a sense of solidarity, let us all contribute to the defense of the rights of people with autism, as befits an inclusive society,” he noted.
For his part, the president of the “Estia” Association, Christos Themos, expressed his support for people with autism and their families, stressing that they should not feel alone and turn to the Association. “They should not be alone, they should not be isolated because this worsens the situation”, he noted and added that the main goal is the Supported Living Shelters. “We are also in contact with the Region to claim their implementation, otherwise people with autism are at risk of incarceration and that is the worst,” he stressed.
On behalf of the HEN of Ioannina, the president Popi Stefanidis emphasized that the Association places women and children at the center of its actions in a safe world, cooperates with social and institutional bodies in actions to inform, raise awareness, strengthen social inclusion on issues such as autism.
“We invite our fellow citizens to celebrate the event, which aims to get to know the Hestia club, its work and support it, so that they can create a better and sustainable environment for people with autism spectrum disorder with, most importantly, a better equal place in society for these people”, he noted and referred to the program.
The opening of the event will be done by Nefeli Radoglou-Mela (guitar-voice) and the program also includes a speech by the external scientific partner of the “Estia” Association, mandated regional adviser for Social Welfare & Cohesion Margarita Gogakis. The presentation will be made by journalist-radio producer Popi Stefanidis.
Participating are the Patriotic Association of Athletes “I Pindos”, the Association of Employees of the University Hospital of Ioannina, the Cultural Association of Katsikas, the Brotherhood of M. Peristeriou “Lakmos” and the Association of Syracuses of Ioannina, the musicians Christos Doulias (clarinet), Diamantis Papanastasiou (percussion), Christoforos Patsouras (violin) and Vassilis Patsouras (lute), and the singers Georgios Patsouras and Lampros Papakostas.