(Picture caption: The Pasifika Autism Support Group Wellington committee, L-R, Anna Filemoni, Melemo Siakumi Mataele, and Daniel Filemoni are staunch advocates of autism acceptance.)
Pasifika Autism Support Group (PASG) is an organisation bringing awareness and acceptance to a disorder which affects so many in Aotearoa and worldwide.
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and April 2 was World Autism Awareness Day.
In 2007, World Autism Awareness Day and the month of April was declared by the United Nations to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism and ensure their full and meaningful participation in society.
Founded by Auckland-based Brian and Betty Pulefolau, PASG is aimed at supporting Pacific parents and carers of people with autism, to meet with others who share similar experiences, gain new information, and bring awareness of autism to the Pacific community here in Aotearoa.
Several years ago, PASG expanded to include a Wellington support group set up by Martin and Faletua Toreka Mariota, before Oranga Tamariki Senior Advisor, Pacific Daniel Filemoni and his wife Anna took over the leadership reins in 2022.
“Our primary goal is to connect Pacific families and raise awareness for autism in various spaces that we occupy,” Daniel explains.
Throughout April, PASG Wellington and Auckland are running activities to promote autism awareness and acceptance, including live performances, Vasifika book launch, sensory movie screening, a silent disco and F45 training.
The self-funded group has recently been approached by potential sponsors, which Daniel says will enable PASG to provide safe spaces to support families and the wider community to understand what autism looks like, taking a Pacific view.
“The committee has been working tirelessly in the background to organise autism events for our communities here in Wellington for the month of April which for us is a month of raising awareness and understanding for everyone – come along and support us.”
You can follow Pasifika Autism Support Group on Facebook, or find more information on the PASG website.
The website hosts the New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline , which provides evidence-based information for people on the autism spectrum, their family and aiga as well as health, disability and education professionals and social service agencies.
It also has translated Quick Cards for Recognition resources in Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island Māori and te reo Māori.