Fernando Carrillo Visits with Autistic Children at the Children’s and Youth Library of the Dominican Republic

Fernando Carrillo Visits with Autistic Children at the Children’s and Youth Library of the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 11/18/2011

Throughout his visit at the Children’s and Youth Library of the Dominican Republic (BIJRD in Spanish), the well-known Venezuelan actor and singer, Fernando Carrillo, shared his time with a group of autistic children and stressed his commitment to help the “Fundación Manos Unidas por el Autismo” (Hands United for Autism Foundation) in their search to find a site for the Foundation to call its own.

Carrillo spent time at the BIJRD talking, playing, singing and dancing with the children as well as speaking with their mothers for a long time.

Fernando Carrillo visited children at the Library where they were involved in a session of musical stimulation and occupational therapy.

Carrillo spent time at the BIJRD talking, playing, singing and dancing with the children as well as speaking with their mothers for a long time.

“I am here today to meet with these children and mainly to understand how and what I can do to help them. I have always been motivated to collaborate with children and now, through my girlfriend Sara Bayat, who works with autistic children in Los Angeles, California, I have been made aware of this issue,” said the actor.

Odil Villavizar, President of the Hands United for Autism Foundation explained the actions carried out by the Office of the First Lady in supporting and helping families with autistic children in their quest to improve their lifestyles.

“I am sure that it is worth it to add my own grain of sand to help this Foundation and the work it does. I am committed to helping this cause and I will also encourage some of my friends to do the same. Together we are going to make a difference,” Carrillo said to Ms. Villavizar.

Dulce Elvira de los Santos, deputy director of the cultural extension and activities of the BIJRD, gave Carrillo a tour of the library. When the visit ended, he and Sara Bayat signed the guest book.

Carrillo is in the country, invited by the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo, to launch his new film “La llave de la independencia” (Key to Independence) at the Dominican Global Film Festival..

Intervention of the Office of the First Lady

Responding to the call made by the Hands United for Autism Foundation, First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández undertook a series of actions to help these families of autistic children.

Up to now, the Office of the First Lady has built model classrooms for autism in the Training Centers and the Progresando Production center of Capotillo, Boca Chica and El Seibo. These spaces are equipped to receive children and adolescents with autism, Down Syndrome and other developmental handicaps. The multi-discipline classrooms are used for education by creating new learning strategies that can be adapted to each individual case.

The Hands United for Autism Foundation is an institution dedicated to guaranteeing the well-being of those who live with this condition as well as to promote, cooperate, provide and direct actions destined to provide support, direction and emotional sustenance to the parents, teachers and relatives of autistic individuals.