ASP’s Dang Koe elected as new AAN Chairman

The executive committee of the ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) elected Dang Koe, Autism Society Philippines’ Chair Emeritus, as its new Chairman during its General Assembly held last 16 January 2016 at the Mabuhay Manor in Pasay.

The new officers of the ASEAN Autism Network

AAN is composed of autism family advocates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. The Asia Pacific Center on Disability (APCD) helped organize this network in 2010, envisioned to lead the efforts to realize the rights of persons with autism in the ASEAN nations.

APCD Executive Director Akiie Ninomiya, himself a father of an adult with autism, congratulated ASP leaders for their passion and relentless commitment in working towards the realization of the rights of persons with autism. In his message during Angels Walk, he said APCD recognizes that “there is still a lack of laws, programs, services and professionals to respond to the needs of persons with autism in Southeast Asia but with the ASEAN integration the opportunity of sharing knowledge, information and resources among member countries would facilitate the resolution to collectively work together to address these issues.” With ASP’s leadership starting this year, he expects member countries to collectively advocate for the rights of persons with autism from an ASEAN perspective. “Each member of AAN must go beyond its country boundaries and work collectively as the ASEAN Autism Network.”

At the Angels Walk lean banner, SM VP Bien Mateo, NCDA Executive Director Carmen Zubiaga, ASP President Mona Magno-Veluz, Senator Sonny Angara, APCD Executive Director Akiie Ninomiya, SM Prime President Hans Sy, AAN Chair Dang Koe and ASEAN Deputy Secretary General HE Dr. AKP Mochtan

The chairmanship of AAN was turned over from outgoing AAN Chairman Malai Hj Abdullah Bin Hj Malai Othman of Brunei to ASP’s Dang Koe in a brief turn-over ceremony on 17 January 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, witnessed by 15,000 participants of Angels Walk -- Philippine government officials, representatives of the government of Southeast Asian countries, business organizations like SM, PWD organizations, civil service organizations, participants from schools and therapy centers, families of persons with autism, delegates from AAN member countries.

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