The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Not all is lost when it comes to autism

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Sunday, Dec 14, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Not all is lost when it comes to autism

Staff Reporter

Early intervention is the key to integrate children into the mainstream

‘The best age for starting therapy is within
the first year’
Need to create awareness among doctors about autism spectrum disorders stressed

Bangalore: “My joy knew no bounds when my son, who could not utter even a word, stood second in the elocution competition in school. He was just a year into the mainstream after going through an early intervention programme at Communication-DEALL (Development Eclectic Approach to Language Learning). Today, I feel he is more knowledgeable than me. He comes back with a book every day from the library, reads it and returns it the next day, something which I never dreamed he would do.” This was Jean Thomas — mother of 10-year-old Prashaal — talking.

Ms. Thomas, a maths teacher, was narrating a mother’s experience in bringing up a child with autism disorders, at the inauguration of Comm-DEALL Trust’s national meet held on Friday.

“Though my second child Rachelle has also been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and is undergoing the early intervention programme at Comm-DEALL, I am comfortable with it because I am now experienced in handling her. I hope she will also soon move into the mainstream like her brother,” Ms. Thomas, fighting back her tears, said even as the four-year-old Rachelle clung to her.

Shweta Tiwari, mother of Abhinav, another child with similar disorders, recalled how life had come to a standstill for her and her husband when they discovered that all was not right with their child.

“Abhinav was born a healthy baby. He looked like any other normal child. But we got worried when he did not acquire verbal skills even at two-and-a-half years. Then, he became very hyperactive and stubborn. We were in Goa then and were advised by a special educator to get him enrolled in Comm-DEALL. Three years have passed and my child is now going to a regular school,” said Ms. Tiwari.

These are just two of the several parents who attended the meet to express gratitude to Comm-DEALL, its founder director Pratibha Karanth, and her team of therapists for helping their children enter the mainstream.

Speaking after inaugurating the meet, Poonam Natarajan, chairperson of the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disorders, stressed on the need for early intervention.

“The best age for starting therapy is within the first year, so that by the time the child is five, he is ready to be integrated into a regular school,” Ms. Natarajan added.

Target

Dr. Karanth, who presented an overview of Comm-DEALL, said she now wanted to target very young children — those who are in the 10 to 20-month age group as integration would be easier.

“Eight years down the lane, though we still have several challenges — including social perception, early diagnosis and lack of awareness — that need to be tackled, we have come a long way. We have opened up the model of our intervention package for replication,” she said.

Stressing that awareness had to be created among doctors and paediatricians about the autism spectrum disorders, Dr. Karanth said even special education for autistic children may not prepare them for the world that they will inevitably have to face.

Parents’ fears

“Usually parents of non-disabled children have their own apprehensions about an autistic child studying with their wards. The school management also perpetuates these fears by not accepting such children. We are also working with some schools to change this perception,” she added.

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