ANKARA - The French Embassy in Turkey hosted on Thursday a fashion show for autistic children.
International Women's Association organized the fashion show to help autistic children at the French Embassy in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old.
Saime Toptan, the spouse of Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan; French Ambassador to Turkey Bernard Emie and his spouse Isabelle Emie were among those who watched the fashion show.
French brand Fendi's spring and summer creation was displayed in the fashion show.
The income of the show will be donated to Ilgi Society for the Protection of Autistic Children, and will be used for construction of a school.
On December 18, 2007, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, tabled by the State of Qatar, which declares April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD).
This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days and will bring the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions. The World Autism Awareness Day resolution encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention. It further expresses deep concern at the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent developmental challenges.