A RECENT convert to painting, Colm Isherwood from Cork has had one of his artworks selected by the UN Postal Administration for use on a stamp marking World Autism Awareness Day.
The work of eight artists from around the world features on the stamps. The United Nations is the only organisation in the world which is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue postage stamps for use in its post offices in New York, Vienna and Geneva.
Mr Isherwood (25) and his parents, from Mahon, met President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin to mark World Autism Awareness Day, which fell yesterday.
Like his twin Eric, Colm has severe autism and is unable to speak. His father, Eric, said that taking up painting two years ago had greatly helped his behavioural problems.
The President said it was “a rare privilege” to meet someone who had designed the artwork for an international stamp.
“It is more of a privilege when that artist is Irish and the only artist outside of North America amongst a small, select group of just eight artists chosen by the UN to celebrate the creativity of people with autism,” Mr Higgins said.
The United Nations Postal Administration’s creative director, Rorie Katz, said it was “an extremely difficult and challenging process” to choose only eight designs from all of the artwork submitted.
Dozens of events were held around the State yesterday to mark World Autism Awareness Day. The international Light It Up Blue campaign led to several Irish buildings being lit up to highlight autism awareness.
They included the O2 and Dublin City Hall in the capital and NUI Galway’s quadrangle and the Hotel Meyrick nearby. Children from the Galway Autism Partnership released blue balloons over Eyre Square to mark the day.
Supporters of Irish Autism Action gathered at the Mansion House in Dublin to raise awareness of the neurodevelopmental disorder. An estimated 50,000 people have the condition in Ireland.
The charity was joined by Fr Hugh McKenna of the Franciscan Friars, who have gifted part of Multyfarnham Abbey in Co Westmeath to Irish Autism Action.
It will open a centre of excellence at the abbey in June that will employ 30 staff.
Also yesterday, the Watson Institute in Pittsburgh signed a three-year contract with the charity. The autism experts will pilot some of their successful projects here.
“We don’t have to try to reinvent the wheel,” said the institute’s chief executive, Raymond White.
Many parents of children with autism were concerned yesterday to receive letters from the Department of Social Protection telling them their domiciliary care allowance was being reviewed. Among the parents receiving the letter was Lisa Davy, whose seven-year-old son has autism. She was told her allowance would be subject to medical review in June.
“It’s just the day that’s in it,” she said. “You are trying to be happy and positive and then we get a letter like this.”
She said her son’s diagnosis was not going to change yet she would have to have all his medical records updated to prove that she was entitled to the payment that goes to parents of children with a severe disability.
* To view or buy the UN stamps, see unstamps.un.org
