Autism Cook Islands (ACI) is running programmes for Autism Awareness Month and encourages everyone to dress in blue this Friday, April 4, 2025, for Autism BLUE Day.

Kat Jensen, the ACI programmes manager, shared exciting events that are happening during the month.

Jensen encourages everyone, including businesses, to show their support by dressing in blue and sharing a gold coin donation for Autism Cook Islands.

On Blue Day, a tent will be set up opposite the police station in Avarua, where businesses and individuals can donate gold coins and participate in a photoshoot.

For businesses collecting gold coin donations in-house who can’t make it to the tent, Jenson offered to set up a roaming team. They’d pick up donations and take photos with the ACI students.

Jensen challenges businesses to a “best dressed in blue” competition, with the winner receiving a free morning tea at their cafe, Studio Blue, located on the back road in Nikao.

An exciting programme that is happening this month is the colouring competition. All schools in Rarotonga will have students participating in the colouring competition, with prizes sponsored by Vodafone Cook Islands.

The money from the fundraisers all goes towards the ACI, to help maintain, purchase, or support its programmes.

According to Jensen, approximately 50 families are registered with ACI, and about 24 children participate in various programmes throughout the year.

ACI’s biggest programme is the Lego programme run by Lani Vano, an autism outreach coordinator. There are four Lego programmes, Build Me “Emotions”, We Do Lego, Spike Lego and Vex Robotics.

These programmes aim to improve or develop social communication skills, especially for those diagnosed with Autism, by unknowingly interacting with each other.

Although the Lego programme was closed this term because of Studio Blue’s opening, it will run again next term on Friday mornings at Studio Blue. Lego equipment will be provided, funded by the New Zealand High Commission and UNESCO grants.

Last week, ACI launched a Lego programme in Aitutaki, led by Oa Mati, an autism outreach coordinator. She travelled to Aitutaki with her trainer, Vano, and an intern from the Ministry of Education, who is an ACI student.

The other programmes ACI has offered are badminton and swimming.

ACI students working at Studio Blue “is a great way to teach the children life skills, to prepare them for entering adulthood”, Jensen said.