ACP is, “For the Days I Won’t Be There,” says Adli

By, Amni Syafiah Abd Karim and Siti Athirah Mohd Zainal

Years ago, Mr. Mohd Adli Yahya held his newborn son in his arms for the first time and felt so overwhelmed and overjoyed, nothing else mattered, only the tiny life he promised to love and protect.  But everything changed after he found out that his child was on the autism spectrum. He started to reject his own child. But today, he builds a future for the same child he once rejected after having a thought about, “What’s going to happen to him when I’m not around” and decided to build the love he is supposed to give to his child by winning his son’s heart back. Mr. Adli, who once worked with the Standard Chartered Foundation, sacrificed his job and started a little project called the Autism Cafe Project (ACP) where life started with his son.

More than Just a Project

Society always regards people with autism as different from the typical who cannot become successful in their life. In this case, they often face challenges in being understood and accepted, especially in public spaces and employment opportunities. The same goes to Mr. Adli who used to not accept his son, Luqman. Recognizing this issue, ACP was introduced by Mr. Adli because he wanted to make amends for what he had done. “I sat down and cried. I didn’t know what to do. It was coming to the point where I realized my mistake and I was trying to as much as I can make amends for what I had done,” said Mr. Adli in a Fly FM Interview.

ACP is an initiative by Mr. Adli to train individuals with autism to live to their fullest potential, including his son. It aims to empower them by offering job opportunities while educating society about autism in a more engaging and meaningful way.

Pictures from ACP Instagram Source: https://www.instagram.com/autismcafeproject?igsh=YmRsdzRkdGtwanFl

Belief and Support

Through its genuine mission and visible impact, ACP builds trust among the public. ACP proves that visitors can show their support with a simple purchase. From this project, people not only know about what they are selling but also it increases awareness among societies of autism.

Therefore, let us show our support by visiting the ACP booth at Gombak Food Festival 4.0 (GFF4.0) that is organised by IIUM Communication Students at HS Square from 5 to 6 May. Our presence helps create opportunities and make a real difference in the lives of individuals with autism.

Find out more about the Autism Cafe Project and show your support at their Facebook and Instagram pages: https://www.facebook.com/Autismcafeproject/ https://www.instagram.com/autismcafeproject?igsh=YmRsdzRkdGtwanFl***