UN World Autism Day and ‘Open Every Door’ Autism Song

Article By: u n
Article Date: 03/18/2008

The United Nations General Assembly in New York is preparing to mark the historic World Autism Awareness Day on Wednesday 2nd April. This United Nations initiative is the first ever World Autism Day and it has created a great deal of interest around the world as it provides a global platform for individuals and organisations to raise awareness about the condition and to raise funds for hundreds of autism organisations.

The idea of having a World Autism Awareness Day came from the State of Qatar who lobbied to make this concept a reality. Qatar has turned the spotlight well and truly onto the world of autism. The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has been urged to launch a world autism strategy and convene a United Nations conference on autism in 2009. This is the ideal opportunity to engage with world leaders on the whole subject of autism.

A highly respected Sri Lanka-born singer/songwrirer who has written for the cinema in South Asia, Nimal Mendis has decided to re-release one of his compositions to mark the UN World Autism Awareness Day through Media Eye Music in London. Mendis has won many awards for his compositions and he turned to the whole subject of autism when he met a young child with autism. The BBC and other UK radio stations played his song for autism, ‘Open Every Door’ on Autism Sunday.

Media Eye Music in London is releasing a new version of ‘Open Every Door.’ This time it is being covered by a young South Asian star Gresha Schuilling who herself was appointed an Ambassador for Autism in Sri Lanka by the Autism Awareness Campaign. Gresha is a young singer with a powerful voice. She has committed herself to raising awareness of autism and Asperger’s Syndrome in South Asia. Gresha is hoping that her version of ‘Open Every Door’ will reach an international audience – the CD is being released for the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April.

‘Open Every Door’ is the cry of every parent and carer who has a child with autism. It is a moving song – copies of the Nimal Mendis song have been given to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and to the Leader of the Opposition David Cameron in the United Kingdom.

Music fans interested in purchasing the ‘Open Every Door’ CD have been requested to contact Mr. Nimal Mendis via his website: www.mediaeyeproductions.com