“At the end of the day, we don’t dream our lives…WE LIVE THEM!”- Anthony Ianni
Shayan is a 4 year child who sits at the corner of the class. He is unable to cope with the studies and is often punished. He has no friends. There is a sadness in his eyes. His teachers feel he is unintelligent and his parents remains blind eyed to his pain. Is Shayan really a boy with less IQ? Is it fair for him to receive such treatment from his teachers and classmates? Can his parents help him? These questions are universal for many such innocent children who are made to sit at one corner of the class everyday.
It is estimated that one in 160 children has an ASD and most of them are not privileged enough to receive the right care, love and medical treatment. ASD also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological disorder which is characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication.
Children with autism display repetitive behaviours, speech deficits and may adhere to following a routine. Some children with autism are very good performers and some face academic challenges. Autism is difficult to diagnose before the age of 5, although if there are symptoms present before the age of 5 it is always suggestive of autism. Children with autism display minimal eye contact or no eye contact as well. Autism is commonly found in boys and rare in girls.
Children with autism struggle a lot for their survival due to social taboos. Societal pressure is one of the reasons that many parents are reluctant to reveal about the disorder and seek medical help. The peer pressures are so overpowering that parents often choose formal schools over special schools because of the fear that their child will not be accepted in the society. On the contrary they fail to gauge the fact that this an added pressure for these children with special needs because of the cut throat competitive academic environment.
It is high time that parents become more open to special schools. Special schools are institutions which impart education according to the comfort level of the children. These intuitions use special skills and techniques for the easy comprehension of the children and to make the children self- sufficient.
Some children with autism may suffer from another condition along with it, such as ADHD which is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Interventions for ASD include Speech therapy, Occupational therapy and remedial education.
World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on April 2nd globally and every year a new theme is curated around this day. This year’s theme emphasizes on ‘transition into adulthood’. It focuses on the challenges that people with autism face to cope with the fast-moving world. There are many educational institutions who do not support the inclusion of students with autism. This year’s theme focuses on providing access to students with autism in higher schools and making them eligible for employment.
It’s time that we provide our support to this cause and elevate the life conditions of these children who are only human but born as special ones.
– Ms. Ketaki Gokhale
Pscyhologist
Parisar Asha