Shuchona Foundation has launched ‘Pracheer Periye’, the Bangla translation of a self-advocate’s book entitled ‘Beyond the Wall’, an autobiography written by Dr Stephen Mark Shore, with the objective to raise awareness on autism during an online event. The auspicious event on 24th April 2022 was organised by the Foundation in collaboration with the Centre for Research and Information (CRI). The autobiographical book tells a fascinating tale of Dr Shore’s journey of struggles and self-awareness throughout his life.
The purpose of translating the book was to let the Bengali readers get a glimpse of the inspiration and energy reflected in the original book ‘Beyond the Wall’, and motivating the readers to face their own challenges without fear and compromise. Another intention behind translating the book by the Chairperson of Shuchona Foundation, Saima Wazed was to try and reduce the stigma around autism in Bangladesh. It’s a must-read book for those who want to understand what it takes to fit in a complicated and fast-paced world. Recognizing that the persons on the spectrum are the same the book provides an understanding of the life of a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is hoped that ‘Pracheer Periye’, the Bengali version of the book, will help further the understanding among Bangla readers at home and abroad.
Shuchona Foundation organized the webinar session titled ‘Pracheer Periye: Saima Wazed’s Conversation with Stephen Shore on his Autobiography and Autism’ in collaboration with Centre for Research and Information (CRI) to unveil the book and to have a fruitful discussion over the importance and need of the translation as well as raising awareness.
Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was present as the Chief Guest. A panel discussion was conducted by Dr Stephen Mark Shore, author of the autobiography Beyond the Wall and Saima Wazed, Chairperson of Shuchona Foundation, Advisor to the Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO) on mental health and autism. The session was moderated by Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed, Associate Professor of Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and Shuchona Foundation’s Executive Committee member. Other esteemed guests who participated as speakers are Jane Pearce, Country Director of World Food Programme Bangladesh, Abida Ibnat Poshla, a self-advocate on the Autism Spectrum, and Nigar Rahman, one of the book reviewers of ‘Pracheer Periye’ during the translation process.
About Shuchona Foundation
The journey of Shuchona Foundation began in 2011 as Global Autism Public Health (GAPH), renamed as Shuchona Foundation later in 2014; with a mission to enable innovative ideas and approaches in the area of neurodevelopment disabilities, mental health issues, and other vulnerable groups; and for enabling inclusion in social, economic, political and cultural progress, and mitigating challenges the individuals face as a consequence of their disabilities and due to social discrimination and prejudice. The vision of the foundation is to envisage a society that has a universal support system and environment, where a person with disabilities can live a productive and meaningful life as a member of the society.
About Dr Stephen Shore
The author of the book Beyond the Wall, Dr Stephen Mark Shore was diagnosed with “atypical development with strong autistic tendencies” and was nonverbal at the age of four. Despite that, he completed his doctorate in special education at Boston University. Stephen now works as a clinical assistant professor at the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education at Adelphi University, teaching courses in special education and autism as a part of his work on empowering people on the autism spectrum in order to develop their capacities to the fullest.
