Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2

MESSAGES 2

PROGRAMME 3

PHOTO GALLERY 4

PROJECT PARTNERS 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Executive Summary 4

II. Messages 5

III. Programme 6

IV. Photo Gallery 7

V. Project Partners 22

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The First Myanmar Autism Games was organized at the Myanmar Paralympic Sports Center, Yangon, Myanmar from 7 to 8 December 2016. The event was organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement of Myanmar, the Myanmar Autism Association, the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability and the Japan Foundation Asia Center. It was held in collaboration with ASEAN Autism Network, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Special Olympics. Over 700 persons with autism and their families from ASEAN countries participated in the track and field and swimming events.

The welcome message was delivered by Dr. Myint Lwin (President, Myanmar Autism Association) followed by the opening messages by Dr. Win Myat Aye (Union Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement), Mr. Norihiko Yoshioka (Director General, The Japan Foundation, Bangkok) and H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag (Chairman, Executive Board, Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability). A thank you message and token of appreciation was also given by Mr. U Phyo Min Thein (Yangon Region Chief Minister).

Photo : Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening of the First Myanmar Autism Games

MESSAGES

Representative of H.E. Dr. Win Myat Aye
(Union Minister of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement)

H.E. Mr. U Phyo Min Thein
Chief Minister Yangon Region Goverment

Dr. Myint Lwin
President Myanmar Autism Association

Mr. Norihiko Yoshioka
Director General
The Japan Foundation, Bangkok

H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag
Chairman of Executive Board
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability

PROGRAMME

Day 1: 7 December 2016

09:00-09:30 Registration

09:30-10:30 Item 1: Opening Ceremony

• Ribbon Cutting

Union Minister

NLD Patron

Thai Ambassador to Myanmar

Japan Foundation

Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability

Yangon Region Chief Minister

• Welcome Message

Dr. Myint Lwin (President of Myanmar Autism Association)

• Opening Messages

Representative of H.E. Dr. Win Myat Aye

(Union Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement)

Mr. Norihiko Yoshioka

(Director General, The Japan Foundation, Bangkok)

H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag

(Chairman of Executive Board, Asia-Pacific Development

Center on Disability)

• Thank You Message and Token of Appreciation

H.E. Mr. U Phyo Min Thein (Yangon Region Chief Minister)

• Group Photo

10:30-11:30 Item 2: Performance by Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder

11:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-15:00 Preparation for the Game

15:00-18:00 Item 3: Running Game

Day 2: 8 December 2016

09:00-10:00 Registration/Exhibit Opening

10:00-12:30 Item 4: Swimming

12:30-13:00 Item 5: Closing

13:00-14:00 Lunch

Photo : Group photo of organizers, partners and stakeholders

PHOTO GALLERY

Caption: A collage of different activities

Participants and Guests

Caption: More than 700 attending the opening ceremony; photos showing group shots of attendees

Children with Autism and their Parents at the Track and Field Event

Caption: Ready.....get set...Go!...Go...! (photos showing the children with autism and their parents doing track and field activities)

Caption:... Great job! (photo showing children actively participating in the track and field event)

Top finishers! (photo showing the winners of the track and field event)

Participants with Autism at the Swimming Event

Testing the waters... (photo showing children and teens with autism swimming)

...with moms (photos showing little children being assisted by their mothers in the pool)

Making a splash at the swimming event (photos showing participants having fun at the swimming event)

Awarding of Winners

Winners all... (photos showing the awarding of winners)

Children Performers at the Opening Ceremony

Children dancing... (photos showing children performing dance numbers)

Playing music... (photos showing children with autism playing on the keyboard)

...and singing (photo showing a child with autism singing)

Local and International Media Coverage

TV interviews... (photos showing the various interviews conducted by the media)

Sharing views... (photos showing TV interviews by local and foreign media)

Local and international news (photos showing the wide media coverage of the event)

PROJECT PARTNERS

Myanmar Autism Association

Myanmar Autism Association (MAA), launched in 2011, is a local, non-profit, non-government, non-political organization which works in accordance with the national policies and guidelines and comply with the national laws and regulations. Its main objective is to provide supportive measures to persons with autism and their families regardless of race, religion, geographical differences and ethnicity. It works closely with government organizations, UN agencies and international non-government organizations, as well as local and international autism organizations, technical experts, volunteers and donors.

The MAA began to take shape after three participants (parents of children with autism) took part in the 1st ASEAN Autism Workshop and Congress, organized by Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability in Bangkok, Thailand on 13 to 17 December 2010. It was at the workshop when the ASEAN Autism Network was formed with 27 members. After the Workshop, steps were taken to form a pre-Working Group with 24 members and conduct a workshop on Community-Based Rehabilitation for Children with Special Needs in March 2011 by the Myanmar Physically Handicapped Association (MPHA) and Family Support Network (FSN).

ASEAN Autism Network (AAN)

The ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) is a non-profit network established in Bangkok in 2010 through the initiative of the parents’ organizations of persons with autism in the ASEAN region and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It was formally organized during the ASEAN Autism Workshop in Bangkok on 13 to15 December 2010 by representatives from

nine countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

AAN envisions an inclusive, rights based, and autism friendly ASEAN community.

It commits to support, assist, facilitate and enhance autism-related family support groups in collaboration with other stakeholders in the ASEAN region and globally.

Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD)

The Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) is a regional center on disability and development. APCD was established in Bangkok, Thailand as a legacy of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, with the joint collaboration of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Royal Thai Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Government of Japan.

APCD was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as a regional cooperative base for its Biwako Millennium Framework for an inclusive society in the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012. ESCAP identified APCD as the regional center on disability for the Incheon Strategy to Make the Right Real, 2013-2022.

Japan Foundation Asia Center

The Japan Foundation is Japan's principal institution dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world. The Asia Center, established within the Japan Foundation in April 2014, is a specialized unit with the goal to connect people, expand networks, and develop cultural programs across Asia. As the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics lie ahead in 2020, through projects in such diverse fields as music, theater, film, sports, Japanese language education and other academic exchanges, the Asia Center, in cooperation with the Foundation's overseas offices, pursues and supports various forms of activities between Asian communities.

Back Cover

Accessible for Persons with disAbilities

Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability

255 Rajvithi Rd., Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400 Thailand

Tel: +66-(0)-2354-7505 | Fax: +66-(0)-2354-7507

Email: info@apcdfoundation.org | Website: www.apcdfoundation.org

Logos: Myanmar Autism Association and APCD