Autistic Children
'Social stigma obstacle to leading normal life'
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greets an autistic child at the inaugural function of the Fifth World Autism Awareness Day-2012 at Osmani Memorial auditorium in the city yesterday. Photo: PMO
Amidst barriers and negligence from the society's part, it is not only the autistic children who suffer but also their parents who often have to refrain from leading a normal life, speakers observed at a meeting in the port city yesterday. “It is very hard to realise the distress of the parents of autistic children,” said Lucky Sen Gupta, mother of an autistic boy named Nil Akash Nath, residing in the city's Sananda Residential Area. The society has set up an undeclared barrier on the autistic children and neglects these children so much that their parents often find it hard to attend social programmes or lead a normal life with their children, she said. Lack of service for the autistic children is one problem while it requires around Tk 10,000 every month for maintaining an autistic child, something not possible for middle class families, she added. Summing up the scenario for autistic children, she said neighbours, relatives, friends and sometimes even family members neglect these children while there is no special service for them at schools with the general teachers having no training to teach these children. Autistic Children Development and Welfare Center (ACDWC) organised the meeting at Shiplakala Academy in the port city observing the World Autism Awareness Day'2012. Begum Arjuman, principal of Nispap School, a specialised institute for autistic students, said the actual figure of the autistic children in the country is still not clear, making it tough for the organisations working on these children to set up work plan. According to different sources, one out of every 150 children is autistic, she added. She also said autistic children need soft and empathetic dealing, getting which they behave like normal children, otherwise they tend to become hyperactive. The mother of a ten-year-old autistic boy also said she does not take her son everywhere to avoid him from facing negative reaction from people. Dr Bashona Muhuri, child specialist and mother of an autistic boy, also said good behaviour and service from others can prove helpful for autistic children. Shamsuddin Sishir, professor of Government Teachers' Training College of Chittagong and also a life time member of ACDWC, said if the teachers did not take special training on the autistic children, it will not be possible to create an autism friendly atmosphere at the schools. Railways Minister Suranjit Sengupta, while addressing as the chief guest, said the government is sincere about the welfare of the autistic children and is thinking of enacting a law to protect their rights. ACDWC Advisor Dr Bashona Muhuri chaired the programme while Deputy Director of Social Welfare Department of Chittagong Parveen Mehtab, journalists M Nasirul Haque and Lion Hasina Khan were present as the special guests.
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