Parents of children with autism often worry themselves to no end over the future of their kids.
Fret not, for autistic children are known to possess many innate talents that could propel them to great heights, provided these talents are unearthed.
With the objective of helping parents identify such talents, a workshop for autistic children was organised at Steps Centre for Challenged here on Sunday to mark the World Autism Day (April 2).
Given the right impetus, any child with autism can have a highly successful career without conventional education as they will have multiple intelligences, declares Parasuram Ramamoorthi, chairman of the Madurai-based Velvi Trust, which imparts training in use of arts and drama to help autistic children grow into adults with dignity and responsibility.
“We are giving masks to help the children make eye contact. These masks are colourful and represent tigers, lions and monkeys, which the kids find attractive.”
Prof. Parasuram Ramamoorthi, who handled the training sessions at Steps on Sunday, says such exercises will help them mingle with other children and increase their attention span. Some children possess mathematical intelligence, which is also linked to musical intelligence, while others may be good in poetry writing or have visual intelligence, enabling them to become photographers or videographers.
Karthik Rajaram, founder and chairman of Steps Groups, said that around 20 children were given training on the occasion. They were divided equally into two groups with children between three and seven years in one group and the rest in the second. The centre was going to take up rehabilitation programme for adolescent girls with autism from Monday, he added.
