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Seeing through the eyes of autism

FirstCare Announces 6th annual awareness essay contest

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Last year’s grand prize winner, Diana Davis of Queen’s College, recites her winning essay at the fifth annual FirstCare Medical Plan Autism Awareness essay contest awards ceremony.

Challenging high school students to envision life from the perspective of someone with autism is the goal of the sixth annual FirstCare Medical Plan Autism Awareness essay contest.

With April internationally recognised as Autism Awareness Month, FirstCare has once again partnered with the Ministry of Education and REACH Bahamas to encourage students to educate themselves on autism and empathise with those who are affected by this neurobiological disorder.

Tenth through 12th grade students throughout the Bahamas are invited to pen a 1,500-word essay under the theme, “If you had the power to pass two laws that would better the lives of children with Autism, what would they be and why?”

Essay submissions will be accepted until April 20.

“FirstCare believes 100 per cent in the powerful domino effect that this annual contest has on students and society as a whole,” said Corinna Neely, president of FirstCare Medical Plan.

“These are students who are on the cusp of adulthood, whose words have more of an impact on society than one may think. By conducting their own research, students are able to delve deeper, thus becoming more knowledgeable about autism spectrum disorder, which equips them with the correct tools and attitude to deal with those who have the disorder. Our ultimate goal is that the contest does the same for society as a whole.”

A panel of six judges from the Ministry of Education, REACH and FirstCare will select the winners.

FirstCare has pledged to provide the grand prize winner with $300 and the first and second runners-up with $200 each. Each winner will also be provided with additional prizes from supporting corporate sponsors including John Bull, The Shoe Village, AML Foods and Custom Computers.

Essays can be submitted to admin@fusionimc.com.

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