The Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is a national, non-profit organization working towards an environment that empowers persons on the autism spectrum disorder to become the best of their potentials -- self-reliant, independent, productive and socially-accepted members of an Autism-OK Philippines. ASP labors to establish institutional mechanisms to support persons on the autism spectrum and their families. Established in 1989, the organization -- composed of 13,000 members spread over 100 chapters -- has been in the forefront of providing services to families and individuals affected with autism. In 2013, ASP was a recipient of the coveted Gawad Apolinario Mabini -- an award conferred to institutions and individuals with noteworthy contributions to the disability community. ASP served as the Chair of the ASEAN Autism Network from 2016-2017.
The Autism Society Philippines aims ...
... to promote public awareness on autism;
... to act as a support group for families of children and adults on the autism spectrum;
... to provide referral services identifying appropriate educational and medical expertise and facilities;
... to network with other organizations, institutions and professionals working for the promotion of legislation and public programs for persons with disabilities;
... to initiate or assist in the creation of appropriate programs for persons on the autism spectrum and their families;
... to promote the implementation and monitoring of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
ASP Programs and Services
ASP designs programs primarily for the support of families and individuals who live on the autism spectrum. It conducts regular family support groups meetings, sibling support and workshops, seminars and trainings on various topics, early detection and intervention consultancy, free community-based therapy services and sharing of the scientific updates.
The society delivers education and training for the benefit of allied medical professionals and educators. Using of global network of advocates, ASP conducts regular monthly seminars on topics relevant to the family’s education and therapy partners in the development of an individuals on the autism spectrum.
The society is a prime mover in autism advocacy in the Philippines. ASP spearheads many of the celebrations during the annual celebration of the National Autism Consciousness Week and the World Autism Awareness Day.
Social Development Programs and Campaigns
The ASP HOMEpowerment Program. This program offers accessible therapy to children on the autism spectrum from indigent families, under the age of 8. The program is composed of occupational, speech and non-traditional therapy sessions. Parents will also receive training on how to apply and continue the interventions for their child at home. This offering was made possible by the generous donation of private sector partners.
The ASP Autism Works. ASP Autism Works creates genuine, sustainable economic empowerment opportunities in compassionate workplaces nationwide. First launched in 2016 as an employment initiative, ASP's CBR-inspired model empowers persons on the autism spectrum and their families towards success at work and guides the enterprise towards a sustainable process of assimilating persons with autism into the workforce. Team members and leaders are given the necessary sensitivity training to guide them through the persons on the autism spectrum employee’s tenure. Aside from work placement, the program provides other productive opportunities:
... ASP AutisMALL Pilipinas is a virtual marketplace for products and services by and for persons on the autism spectrum, managed by the Autism Society Philippines. This is a laboratory for budding entrepreneurs to bring their products to market. Visit: https://shopee.ph/autismphils
... ASP Employability Training bridges skills of persons on the autism spectrum to a level required by industry through coaching and hard skills training. Partners: Accenture (NCR), A Child's DREAM (Benguet), Communicare (NCR), Harvest of Hope (Quezon), Hopewell School (Cavite), ILLC (NCR), The Learning Center (NCR), Kite String Developmental Center (Cebu), and RICAFI (Davao)
The ASP Angels Walk for Autism. Begun in 2007, this event has grown to be the single largest autism advocacy event in the country. It is held every year to kick off the National Autism Consciousness Week. In recent years, it has been hosted by the SM Program on Disability Affairs at the MOA Arena and attracted as much as 24,000 participants from the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam -- among them, leaders in government and the private sector. The event has been echoed in 23 cities across the country -- Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legaspi, Lucena, Naga, Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Fernando (La Union), Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Valenzuela, Virac, and Zamboanga.
1Pangako. Launched in 2013, this social media campaign calls for a personal promise to act to stop the derogatory use of the word "autistic" and to promote the true acceptance and inclusion of Filipinos with disabilities, through a simple oath which participants are asked to recite verbally or post on their social media timeline. This “kindness campaign” has garnered approximately a million promises from all over the nation, as well as countries like Brunei and Malaysia.
AOK Pilipinas. Launched in 2015, this movement sparked by the Autism Society Philippines, is designed for the welfare of the maturing population of Filipinos on the spectrum and hopes to inspire acceptance, accommodation and appreciation in universities, businesses and workplaces. The program aims to:
- Enable autism-friendly establishments
- Enable autism-compassionate workplaces
- Promote job transition specialists and coaches
- Promote professionals and freelancers on the spectrum
- Promote persons on the autism spectrum livelihood opportunities
The ASP Angel Corps. The ASP Angel Corps is the volunteer arm of the Autism Society Philippines. Hope, Act, Impact -- the rallying call for our volunteers -- echoes the essence of the autism advocacy movement. Volunteers contribute in very personal ways to programs driven by the ASP towards sustainable improvement of the lives of individuals on the autism and their families.
The ASP Autism Angel Achievement Awards. Nicknamed the A5, this annual award aims to recognize individuals on the autism excelling at a national level or pioneering in their chosen field. Past A5 recipients include: Ron Adea (performing arts), John Christian Ballesteros (information technology), Vell Baria (performance arts), Samantha Pia Cabanero (advocacy), Noel Cartera (sports), Victor Cham (visual arts), Robin Conanan (sports), Laurence Anthony de Guzman (performance), Exiquiel de Vera (information techology), Danica Escasinas (performance arts), Keith Rafael Ignacio (information technology), Raymond Macasaet (athletics), Rafael Manuel (information technology), Eduardo Enrique Munarriz (sports), Miguel Franco Ramirez ( information technology), Brian Rayos (information technology), Thara Marie Santiago (performance arts), and Carl Veluz (visual arts).
The ASP PweDays. Pronounced [pwe'-deys], these are activities that aim to provide enrichment for persons on the autism spectrum -- to learn new skills, to socialize with non-family members and to have fun -- in a happy, inclusive environment.
The ASP ARTismo is the culture and arts platform of the Autism Society Philippines. It harnesses the beauty of art as a form of self-expression and elevates the skills of artists on the spectrum towards a creative vocation.
The ASP AUdventure purpose to provide children and youth on the spectrum with opportunities to: embrace fresh encounters, discover unfamiliar destinations to enhance their growth, and champion the cause of inclusivity and the creation of more autism-friendly environments.
ASP AUmazing Show. The Autism Society Philippines launched the ASP Aumazing Show in 2023 not only to discover new performers for the next Angels Walk for Autism, but also to support them in becoming professional performers onstage.
The ASP AUthletics. Autism Society Philippines launched in 2020 to promote wellness through movement and develop competitive athletes among individuals on the autism spectrum across the nation. Its purpose is to encourage well-being, friendship, and achievement while also promoting genuine acceptance, accommodation, and appreciation in an Autism-friendly environment in the Philippines. To view the AUthletics Leaderboard and medal tally, click here.
Philippine National Autism Conference. (under review) This bi-annual event is designed to provide information on developments relevant to allied medical professionals and community workers who work with autism. Most importantly, it is intended to help the growing community of parents, family members and individuals on the autism spectrum who are seeking answers, quality support and fellowship.
... ASP Project ChocolatA (pronounced cho-ko-lat-'ey) (under review) is a sheltered workshop where persons on the autism spectrum are trained in making chocolate truffles. The sales of these products sustain the salaries of the persons on the autism spectrum staff. Partners: Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation, Henkel Philippines
... ASP Project GourmA (pronounced gur-'mey) (under review) showcases the abilities of individuals on the autism spectrum in the food and restaurant industry, through dining experiences. Partners: College of Saint Benilde, Gourmet Gypsy
