Portimão will wear blue, next Tuesday, April 2nd, to mark World Autism Awareness Day.
From 10:00 am, Praça 1º de Maio will be the meeting point for a gym class in shades of blue, as part of the municipal Exercise and Health program, as part of the European City of Sport 2019.
The performance of the music band of the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism – Algarve (APPDA) and a launch of blue balloons are also planned.
The invitation is launched to all those who want to join the event and embrace this cause by making their presence felt, in front of the Town Hall, wearing – at least – a piece of blue clothing, and the occasion will be registered with a family photo.
The Museum of Portimão, the Manuel Teixeira Gomes Municipal Library, the Town Hall, the Commission for the Protection of Children and Youth of Portimão, APPDA, the Cooperative for Reeducation and Support for the Exceptional Child of Portimão (CRACEP), the Community Centers of Portimão Cruz da Parteira, Coca Maravilhas and Bairro Pontal, the Municipal Market, the Sports Complexes of Portimão, Alvor and Mexilhoeira Grande and numerous schools in the county, among other public facilities, embraced this cause and will put blue banners on their buildings.
Autism belongs to a group of developmental brain disorders known as autism spectrum disorders. It consists of a neurological disorder characterized by impairment of social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and restrictive and repetitive behavior. It affects the processing of information in the brain, changing the way nerve cells and synapses organize themselves. However, how the process occurs at the brain level is still not well understood by the medical community.
In Portimão, the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism – Algarve (APPDA) is a private non-profit social solidarity institution, which aims to support and promote training, education and quality of life for people with developmental disorders and autism.
It was born from the initiative of a group of parents committed to creating a support structure for those suffering from the disease, having been officially set up on 25 August 2006.
This association provides consultations in clinical psychology and developmental pediatrics, as well as services such as music therapy, speech and occupational therapies, hippotherapy, hydrotherapy and hypnotherapy.
It also provides vocational and professional guidance and consultancy to families, schools and kindergartens, having a service and social support office. In terms of activities, it promotes conferences, workshops and lectures, as well as clarification sessions, among other things.
Mértola will also join this initiative.
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