Beauty queen Michelle Dee has been named goodwill ambassador of the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), continuing her advocacy of autism awareness and mental health education.
“My heart is full [and I’m] so grateful for the trust,” she wrote on her Instagram post. “With everything that we’ve done and to everything we’re about to do, cheers to a brighter and more inclusive Autism-Ok nation.”
According to their website, the ASP is a national nonprofit organization for Filipinos who live with autism spectrum disorder.
Michelle has been vocal about her advocacy of making the Philippines more inclusive to people with special needs after growing up with two siblings who both have autism. She released a vlog last April 2019 explaining her motivations and dreams.
She also mentions her advocacy in her introduction reel for the Miss World 2019 pageant, in which she represented the Philippines and eventually placed as one of the Top 12 finalists. She said that she hopes to increase chapters of ASP, with whom she has been working closely even before the beauty pageant, in rural areas, in light of the increasing number of undiagnosed cases of autism due to lack of facilities and awareness.
(ALSO READ: Michelle Dee Looks Like a Goddess in Her Miss World 2019 National Costume)
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