Last weekend, at the world-famous Guggenheim Museum on New York’s 5th Avenue, EML’s Global Director of Public Relations, Marie O’Riordan, an Autistic Savant, was honoured to travel from Ireland to be a VIP at the UN World Autism Awareness Day celebrations with America’s Autism Hearts Foundation.
The UN designates April 2nd as an official world Autism observance day each year, one of seven annual UN health awareness days. This year’s theme is Inclusive Quality Education For All. The pandemic affected 90% of students worldwide, with pupils living with Autism disproportionately affected.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is an Autism and sensory-friendly and accessible space for all with ongoing inclusive online family art classes, welcoming everyone on the Autism Spectrum.
The Autism Hearts Foundation, (AHF), a 501 (c)(3), is on a mission to maximise the potential of children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to learn, develop, function independently, and participate in the full range of social and cultural activities for an improved quality of life.
The Guggenheim and Autism Hearts presented the Hope fashion and arts event by young artists living with Autism inspired by the late artist, Vasily Kandinsky, whose works are featured in the Around The Circle exhibition running until September 5th. It is speculated that Kandinsky lived on the Autism Spectrum?
”EML is beyond proud of our employees taking time to champion diversity and celebrate their own purpose. Marie and the networking she does to celebrate UN World Autism Awareness Day is the perfect example of EML’s commitment to inclusion; when we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become wiser, more inclusive, and better as an organisation,” said Kristen Shaw, Group Chief People & Culture Officer at EML.
”It’s an incredible honour to be an Autistic woman experiencing UN World Autism Awareness Day at The Guggenheim with Autism Hearts. The arts hold a vital key to helping children and adults on the Autism Spectrum, and Vasily Kandinsky has always been one of my favourite artists. There were many wow moments at the event, and The Guggenheim was a befitting stage for such talented young artists living with Autism. 2022 marks the 11th year I’ve been humbled to be a patron to Neurodiverse artists, retired theatre and entertainment professionals and a theatre company in North America and Europe. I am acutely aware that an estimated 85% of Autistics are under or unemployed, and I have EML’s progressive and forward-thinking approach to People and Culture to thank for the incredible opportunities that present themselves to me in my career working alongside my amazing teammates every day,” added Marie O’Riordan, Global Director of Public Relations at EML.
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