Brookefields Mall along with a few other buildings in the city turned blue on Saturday as they were decorated with blue balloons and lights for the ‘Igoblue 4 Autism’ awareness celebration organised by Sharanalayam - Third Eye (a learning centre for children with autism) to mark World Autism Awareness Day on Saturday.
Director of Third Eye Saranya Rengaraj said that the main objective of the event was to create understanding and acceptance. She said that not many know signs of autism. “Lack of intensive therapy and training at the early stages could worsen things,” she said and added that autism ratio is rising steadily.
She clarified that autism is not a disease and that such children only need different training. Ms. Rengaraj added that parents don’t reveal that their child has autism, fearing their friends and relatives might avoid them.
Psychiatrist Arun Vagili said autism is a developmental disorder of brain in children where some skills that forms in early years like speech and social communication that develop along with brain growth gets delayed or incomplete.
He suggested that a child showing slow growth or odd behaviour should be evaluated by a paediatrician, who could diagnose it even before the child turns three years old.
Gayathri, a parent, shared her experience as mother of a child with autism and how lack of social awareness indirectly affected her family.
The president of chamber of Commerce, Pollachi, G.D. Gopalakrishanan, managing trustee of Vethathiri Ashram Alagar Ramanujam and others also spoke.
The event was followed by a dance performance. At the Coimbatore Railway Station, people took selfies at a blue photo booth.
The railway station, a leading textile showroom, jewellery outlet and an education institution were also decorated in blue on Friday and Saturday. The Hindu was the print partner for the event.
