- The Indian Scale Assessment of Autism estimates that there are approximately 1.7-2 million children with autistic spectrum disorder in India.
- Around one third of people with autism remain nonverbal.
- Around one third of people with autism have an intellectual disability.
- Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias.
- First and foremost, a regular kid needs to understand that they need to be patient with the autistic child.What you hear and understand as a normal child is different in an autistic child.
- These children are very emotional and mood driven. They might have a certain time and frame. As someone trying to help the special needs child, you need to have a calm and peaceful mind during the time that you spend with the autistic child.
- Never compare your understanding ability with the autistic child as they may take time to grasp what is being taught in the class. And instead of competing, you should be supportive and make it happen together.
1- Spread awareness: Have awareness camps. Make people understand about autism. Spread info and knowledge about autism- what are the different types, how a child goes through it, whether it is contagious or is it by birth etc.
2- Have on stage activities: Identify and tap autistic talent. They are good painters, programmers. Special education teachers should tell the normal child about the special skill-sets that these kids have and organise such activities or functions for them.
3- Volunteer with them: 90% schools have special education departments where therapy or help is given one on one. There is limited capacity for the school to take care of the child. Be a part of the special ed dept and volunteer to do one hour per week with the autistic children. Work particularly with one child on an hourly basis and help them learn, unlearn, understand talk to them etc.
Now that you know how you can too be a part of creating awareness about autism, are you ready to take up the responsibility?
It is just an disorder like any other disease or disorder and people or children suffering from autism should not be taken differently. It is just that God has gifted them with some other special power.
Autism should not be taken too lightly. i think there should be awareness camps in certain schools or specialized rural areas where people are not exposed to the health facilities.