An international expert on autism will be hosting workshops in Bermuda as part of Autism Awareness Month.

Lori Ernsperger will be speaking about practical strategies for including students with autistic spectrum disorder and implementing applied behavioural analysis effectively.

The event at Prospect Primary School on April 19 is part of a series of activities, which include a fun run and go-kart grand prix, organised by the Bermuda Autism Support and Education charity.

“Education allows for society to be cognisant and compassionate,” Anthony Peets, the president of Base, told The Royal Gazette.

“Our efforts provide families who are noticing challenges with the awareness to contact us. We save them a lot of time and we’re also very sensitive to what they are going through.”

According to Mr Peets, whose son is on the autism spectrum, there are at least 440 people with autism in Bermuda.

“First and foremost, it is the world’s number one paediatric concern,” he added.

Tomorrow’s Voices, Bermuda’s only early intervention centre for children with autism, will also be putting on events, including a tag day, charity fundraisers and open house to mark Autism Awareness Month.

Presentations about early learning skills and challenging behaviours, with Megan McCarron and Elizabeth Cranmer from the Connecticut Centre for Child Development, will be held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on April 22 and 23.

“Raising awareness is important because autism touches Bermuda like any other country,” Thea Furbert, the chairman and co-founder of Tomorrow’s Voices, said.

Ms Furbert said the island fell in line with statistics from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which indicate that about one in 66 people are on the spectrum.

“We have to make sure that strategies are in place to support those with autism to lead productive and independent lives,” she said.

Tomorrow’s Voices specialises in providing clinical services and support networks for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Autism Awareness Month will be kick-started with a proclamation at City Hall at noon today.

For more information about the events, contact BASE at basebda@yahoo.com or Tomorrow’s Voice at info@tomorrowsvoices.bm or view the PDFs under “related media”.