Social acceptance key for autistic kids comfort level for children with autism
Increasing comfort level by occupational training can go long way, say experts.
Coimbatore: In the U.S one in every 45 children suffers from autism. However, in India the number of children who suffer from autism is not available as a majority of parents are skeptical about admitting the fact that their child is suffering from autism in the first place.
Our society, on the other hand also fails to accept children who are suffering from autism. Such children are made fun of and are often looked down upon in our country, say experts.
A majority of parents, left with no choice lock up their kids at home and do not allow them to mingle with normal kids. Experts in the medical field point out that social acceptance about autism can go a long way in making children who suffer from autism comfortable and this can help them live a better life.
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder that is characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Early identification of the symptoms and putting such children through therapy can go a long way in improving the condition of such children and if all falls in place for them, they too can join children in the mainstream.
Sunday, April 2, was observed as World Autism Awareness Day. The theme for this year was ‘Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination’. Experts from the medical field point out that autism may be caused due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Children who are a few weeks old display signs and symptoms of autism. If the infant does not respond to its name call or sounds in general, if the infant does not look at the mother eye to eye while breast-feeding, if the infant is less or over sensitive to touch, or if the infant displays more than normal limb movement, this infant could be suffering from autism, experts point out.
Dr Karthik Rajaram, director, Steps Groups, who runs a rehabilitation center for individuals with developmental, congenital and accidental special needs shares with us “One day is not enough to spread the awareness about this condition. Parents must be open towards accepting the fact that their child is suffering from autism and the society at large must be willing to give such children an opportunity. When the signs or symptoms of autism are identified, that child must be introduced to treatment in form of therapy,” he says.