Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is the best available evidence-based practice which is found to have been most effective in the management of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), says Simmi Santha, Canada-based behavioural therapist and autism specialist.
Talking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, Dr. Simmi said one should be aware of the fact that autism is not a disease and there is no medical treatment for this disorder in the brain development of a child.
“In Kerala, some times, it is seen that parents are not willing to talk about or accept the different abilities their child has. This perspective should change as parents are the best advocates for their child,” says Dr. Simmi.
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According to her, creating more awareness on autism among parents, teachers, medical community, and other professionals is the need of the hour.
She said a survey has estimated the total number of autistic people in India at 20,000.
In the United States, one out of every 68 children is identified as autistic, says she.
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Dr. Simmi says, as per the Right to Education Act, no child should be denied access to education and schools have the responsibility to accept children with all abilities and provide them with necessary educational support.
When children with ASD attend regular schools, they have normal or typically developing children as role models. They get good opportunities to learn appropriate skills, feel accepted in the society, and it also helps them strengthen their self-esteem and self-confidence, says Dr. Simmi.
The normal children also learn many skills such as how to become a peer model or peer tutor and develop compassion and sharing skills, she said.
“I have been serving in the field of developmental disabilities and ASD in New York since 1998 and in Toronto in Canada since 2008. In both these cities very good provincial programmes are in place supporting individuals with ASD and their families. Behaviour therapy is a must with children with ASD and once this kind of intense therapy is provided in the beginning, it becomes easy for the child to adjust themselves in the school environment. It is high time India too followed suit,” says Dr. Simmi.
Though a child with ASD at any age can be supported, it is better to start therapy in the early childhood itself so as to achieve significant improvements, she says.