Sandstorm and gloomy weather failed to stop hundreds of residents, including students, teachers and other professionals, from participating in a walkathon at Aspire Park on Friday, aimed at helping raise public awareness on autism.
The event, dubbed ‘Autism Walkathon – A Walk against Stigma’ and organised by the Qatar Institute for Speech and Hearing (QISH), forms part of the World Autism Awareness Day in Doha, which is being celebrated every April 2 in different countries. 
Several people with autism, as well as senior officials and representatives of various government and non-governmental organisations, educators, parents and athletes participated in the walkathon.
The participants who thronged the park raised several banners with messages saying “We support children with autism and love them,” “Autism is not a hereditary disease,” “Autism is not a contagious disease,” “I love someone with autism,” and “We all co-operate to support people with autism,” among others. 
T-shirts for the event also had messages like: “Autism is not a disability, it’s a different ability.”
“This is part of the Institute’s support for people with autism, this (walkathon) is for our children, for our families,” QISH adviser and consultant Abdulrahim Ahmed told Gulf Times.
He joined Captain Ahmed Khalid al-Ghanim, director of Prevention Department at the General Directorate of Civil Defence at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially start the walkathon.
“We have to remind people that autism is not a disease, it is something that happens everywhere,” Ahmed said.
He stressed that people with autism should be given the opportunity and freedom to mingle, play and have fun with others.
Limiting the movement of people with autism, such as keeping them only in the house, will not be good for them, he explained. 
The Institute now takes care of more than 75 children with autism who will be trained with various skills, according to Ahmed.
QISH managing director Niyas Kavungal echoed Ahmed’s statement saying they want to reach as many people as possible in their autism campaign.
The Institute also organised several activities recently, which included cultural programmes, to mark the World Autism Awareness Day 2018 under the theme ‘Empowering Women and Girls with Autism.’ 
The event was first proposed by the United Nations representative from Qatar and the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in 2007.
Supported by all member states and adopted in 2008, the event is internationally observed every April 2 to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life and those with autism, “so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.”
Kavungal said a large number of people also took part in last year's walkathon at Katara – the Cultural Village.
QISH, a member of the Qatar National Autism Plan, will continue holding the event next year and expects the number of participants to further increase, he added.
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