Because in adulthood autists are virtually no longer entitled to services, the Autist & Major Foundation, founded a year ago by actors Sophie Prégent and Charles Lafortune, is working to open day centers. to maintain their skills and help them integrate into society.
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The first of these day centers adapted to the needs of autistic people aged 21 and over will be created in the new Giant Steps school, which must be built by 2023 in the Shop Angus, in Montreal.
To carry out its missions, the foundation of the two artists needs the support of companies and other charitable organizations. Quebecor, under the leadership of its President and CEO, Pierre Karl Péladeau, announced Friday a donation of $ 1 million to the Autist & Major Foundation.
“This money means that we can start projects more quickly. It’s $ 1 million over five years, that gives a sort of guarantee every year. We are in the concrete, our general manager is already working with public health, ”said Sophie Prégent in an interview, on the sidelines of the announcement made at Dock619, in Longueuil.
Sophie Prégent and Charles Lafortune know what they are talking about as parents of Mathis, who has non-verbal autism and will soon be 20 years old.
“The big question is, what do you do when you’re 21 years old with autism and you wake up in the morning?” Integration into work, continuing learning, the preservation of acquired knowledge, these day centers that we want to create will be at the intersection of many things, ”indicated Charles Lafortune, who wishes to be deployed in several regions over the next few years.
After Montreal, Quebec should follow, then most of the major centers in every corner of the province. Thus, in addition to the services offered to adults with autism, families will be able to obtain respite.
“We will ensure that in each project that they are going to develop, the Ministry of Health will provide the required services, the required professionals,” underlined the Minister for Health and Social Services, Lionel Carmant, who took share with the announcement.
For Pierre Karl Péladeau, business people and companies must contribute to society, a value passed on to him by his father, Pierre Péladeau. It encourages more businesses to embrace important causes that make a difference.
“A company is a social unit, and as a social unit it must also act more broadly than purely and simply, for its shareholders. There are the citizens, the collectivity, the community, the environment, this is the reason why companies must invest in combating GHGs, invest socially and at the socioeconomic level so that we can participate in the process. ‘collective enrichment and improvement of the well-being of each and every one, ”said Mr. Péladeau.