KUALA LUMPUR, Some 40 autistic children and adults will gather near the waterfront of the capital city's oldest mosque, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, to compete in an art competition on May 1, as an effort to create awareness of autism and its needs. Organised by the Caring Cluster Foundation, the event, 'Kinder Arts by Special Artists', will be held on the pavement of the River of Life from 9.30 am to 1 pm. The foundation's pro-tem chairman Michael Plascow said children with autism greatly benefit from using art as therapy and it enhances communication through the expression of ideas and emotions. 'The competition's goal is to show everyone that it is possible for a child with a disability to be very much loved like any other child and also to be highly gifted. Through such competition, we hope to create an awareness and better perception of such special people and their disabilities,' he said in a statement. Plascow said the foundation would also serve as a support group for the families of these au tistic children, and the art competition is part of a series of projects that the foundation will organise in the coming months to raise awareness and funds to help these children and their families. 'The public can support this cause by visiting the River of Life and witnessing the children and adults in action,' he added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency