Globally yet another awareness day will be observed tomorrow (April 2). Yet experts feel awareness about autism is in its infancy though the World Autism Awareness Day has been aiming at increasing awareness about children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
“Regardless of the growing incidence of autism, there is a very little awareness even among doctors and teachers. How can we expect parents to identify ASD symptoms,” wonders Parasuram Ramamoorthi, working with autistic children and adults using the mask technique.
Autism is difficult to identify as autistic children do not sport a particular look as in the case with Down syndrome and this makes the early diagnosis and intervention impossible. To put in simple words, they are different and they see the world in a different angle unlike the normal human beings, he notes.
ASD has hardly received research attention and awareness and this is further complicated by the stigma attached to it. Many people think it is related to mental retardation. The parents are usually in a dilemma but once acceptance is there, intervention and development follow. Dr. Parasuram Ramamaoorthi asserts autism is not a disease but a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts through a person’s lifetime. It impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others. The children need training and not bio-medical intervention as the researchers could not pin point the cause or reason.
Acceptance
“The interest of the child should be identified and trained. For example autistic individuals usually excel in painting, carpentry, photography, music etc. They can surpass normal human beings but the parents and the society have to accept the situation besides providing them the need for routine-based activities,” he says.
Concurs P. Sumathi, mother of seven-year-old child: “Acceptance plays a major role in the rehabilitation of the child especially among the relatives – the micro form of the society.”
Sumathi identified her son’s problem after the attack of brain fever. When she started searching for a proper school, she found that the handful special schools in the city lacked in basic facilities. Besides, she found the fee to be on the higher side in comparison to the facilities and also children with all forms of disabilities were clubbed together.
“With determination I walked around the city seeking help so that I can help my child speak,” she says.
Sumathi notes that lack of awareness results in parents ending up in wrong diagnosis and children are given sedatives to keep them under control besides pushing them into a rigmarole of scans and psychologists.
Whereas with early intervention and proper training, these children could do wonders. Abbas of Akshaya Special School stands a testimony having won the first place at District Athletic meet and fourth place in the Special Olympics.
“Parents should accept the situation and condition of the child. Next comes the extended family and the society,” says Abu Baker Siddique, father of Abbas.
With acceptance coupled with committed trainers and exclusive schools, an autistic child can lead a near normal life. “Their cognition is deep but they cannot express their feelings,” he says.
In Madurai, Dr. Parasuram Ramamoorthi has identified about 200 children. More people would come out of their cocoons, if they have proper awareness about the disorder. In the northern part of India, few films like ‘Main Aisa hi Hoon,’ have thrown light on the disorder and helped in dramatic increase in awareness about autism. The idea should be to focus on a wide range of services that help to improve the lives of children with autism and their families - from educational, medical, to legal standpoint. Mass media not only immediately arrests the attention of people but also helps them understand the situation irrespective of their educational background, asserts Dr. Ramamoorthi.
There should be an initiative to form clubs in schools to educate students on ASD to enable them to understand and accept autistic children.
Autistic individuals may not be able to effectively communicate with the outside world, but that should not stop the rest from making their life a little more convenient.
