Can we think of a human who is unable to express his/her feelings, who can't socialize with the peers, who can't even maintain the eye contact? Whose rights are being violated almost every second! It's next to impossible to put ourselves in their place and anticipate those sufferings they undergo. But there are some angels living this phenomenon, named as autism.
World autism awareness day is observed on April 2nd 2010. People might think of it as just another disease but if we dare to explore it then we may end-up with a feeling of sympathy towards those suffering from this ailment, but I think they need something more than our sympathy.
It is well said that man is a social animal but what if this animal lacks social skills? Darwin has talked about survival of the fittest but where are we going to fit these children? Declaration of ‘Alma Ata' has affirmed the notion of health for all but do we really include them in all? Raburn, S. (2010) has cited that 1 in 110 children in US are diagnosed with autism. Government statistics suggest the prevalence rate of autism is increasing 10 to 17 percent annually.
Let's first take a look at this disorder which has snatched the smiles of many children affected by it. Autism is principally a spectrum disorder which affects every victim differently. It is a developmental disorder which deprives a child of achieving normal milestones and is like life is going in a slow motion.
It is important for parents and the caretakers of the child to be aware of the normal milestones with respect to the age so that they can identify any delay in time. We shouldn't rely on doctors only because we, as a parent or a teacher know our child better than any other doctor in this world. If we are well informed then we can bring back the smiles on our kid's face. There are certain milestones which should be achieved at a particular time and if they are delayed due to any reason, is alarming. For instance, by 15 months; the child is able to maintain eye contact, by first birthday the child is able to walk holding onto furniture, and possibly a few steps without support, by 18 months; the child can speak some words, by 3 years; expresses his/her feelings, by 4 years; the child can dresses and undresses without assistance; brushes teeth and combs hair; and laces shoes and by 5 years; cooperates and socialize. Failure to accomplish these milestones will help us to assist them on the basis of the child's capacity.
Adams, Edelson, Grandin, and Rimland (2008) in their article "Advice for Parents of Young Autistic Children" has cited that other than this, there are some of the conditions which occur along with this disorder that includes mental retardation which means IQ lower than the normal, seizures which means involuntary movements of body parts, sleep problems, sensory sensitiveness, and some may have pica problem i.e. eating non-food items.
As every individual has some lacking, so do these children have! Are we doing justice by looking at them from the eye of discrimination? Do we have enough rationales to put them in nursing homes? I was amazed to read one of the mother's perception and her feelings as she has verbalized for his son with autism that:
I accept my child wholly. I celebrate his differences and his quirky-ness. I advocate diversity. I try to empower him. I am proud of his successes, no matter how small they seem. I hope he holds onto the compassion he has in his heart into adulthood. I do not think he needs "fixing". I am proud that he is my son, and sometimes I am humbled by that very same thoughtas cited in "Quotes About Autism (and everything that includes)", 2007.
It's really inspirational that some of the parents do have such discernment and sensitivity that their child does have his/her self-esteem, they do have capacity to nurture and they also have the capability to earn.
Autistic beings can blossom if their spirits, endowment and self-esteem are not destroyed by persecuting them, by chauvinism and by being forced to be normal.
By and large, one thing has come through consensus that not only a single intervention is best suited for all autistic natives as it affects every individual differently therefore, there are various therapies available for it from which they can be benefited. A series of interventions have been developed through researches like education-based approaches that include applied behavioral analysis which generally involves a therapist who work intensely, and deal the child one-on-one for 20 to 40 hours/week in which children are trained skills in a simple step-by-step manner, such as teaching colors one at a time as cited in Adams, Edelson, Grandin, and Rimland (2008). Moreover, there is another therapy i.e. and speech therapy which provides professional help and guidance in communication development for individuals with autism. Furthermore, physical therapy, occupational therapy and vocational trainings can also lend a hand these unprivileged children in their daily functioning and will make them skillful so that they don't become burden on their families and live a respectable life.
Additionally, our thoughts, feelings and mind-set are enormously significant when we teach an autistic child; we should be more focus on the effectiveness of whatever techniques or strategies we are implementing. If we ourselves would be uncomfortable, consequently; we will behave differently and will be more likely to act in response that can have a destructive impact on the child. Every now and then, parents and educators have thoughts and feelings that are in a roundabout way uttered in their interactions with their kids which end up into intricacy. If a teacher doesn't consider a child's capacity to grow intensely and genuinely, he/she will not instruct effectively and efficiently.
"ACELP" (Association for children with emotional and learning problems) is located in Karachi which is an institution for children who are mentally disabled or those who have delayed milestones. This institution consists of OPD as well as school. They have a psychologist there who used to assess the child and take out the mental age out of chronological age and put the patient on the respective class accordingly. Moreover, therapies either group or individual are administered on the basis of the cognitive level of the child. We are privileged that we have such organizations and it is good to see that humanity still exist in this world that such organizations are providing quality care for free other than criticizing the government not doing anything.
By reading this article, many of us may feel urge to serve them but the question arises HOW? There are centers as I have mentioned previously. We can serve them voluntarily and render our services because they need us! And we need them too!
We always complain that we are not blessed and it's a human psychology that we humans are never contended with what we are having and are constantly criticizing but when I came across such individuals then I really feel contended and sanctified. This may not be wrong by saying that now we have become homosapiens only and have forgotten that we are humans actually. With contrast to that, we should realize that they aren't insane and their thoughts and wishes are similar to us. So we shouldn't let them to be isolated and try to help them in their survival in this brutal world.
Here! I would like to request that we don't have to pity on them but to give them equivalent status as they are human, they are different not defective. We ought to acknowledge them as they are and hold up them too and at this juncture, I consider it worthy to reiterate that we should not pity on them indeed!
References
Developmental Milestones Checklist. (n.d.) retrieved March 22, 2010 fromhttps://classshares.student.usp.ac.fj/ED305/DevelopmentalMilestonesChecklist up to 21 years.pdfAdams,J.B., Edelson, S.M., Grandin, T., Rimland, B., (2008). Advice for Parents of YoungAutistic Children. Retrieved March 25, 2010 from
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, (2008, February). Autism. Retrieved March
27, 2010. from
Raburn, S. (201, January 22).Prevalence of Autism Continues to Climb:Reasons for Increase
in Number of Kids With Autism Remain Unclear. Retrieved March 22, 2010 from http://autistic-child parenting.suite101.com/article.cfm/prevalence_of_autism_continues_to_climb
Quotes About Autism (and everything that includes). (2007, November 15) Retrieved March
20, 2010 from /
