Autism not a barrier

19 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Mahbuba Zannat

An exhibition of artworks by children with autism held on the Autism Welfare Foundation premises in the city recently on the occasion of the World Autism Awareness Day. Photo: STAR

A 12-year-old boy was showing his paintings to visitors at an exhibition pleasantly. The visitors were attracted by an overmastering delight in the beauty of his wonderful paintings. "Abir has recently received an award from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for his paintings," said his mother. But Abir is not like other boys. He has some problems in communication and socialisation. The physicians term it autism. "It took long five years to diagnose the problem. My son would improve much if it could be diagnosed earlier," said Abir's mother adding she had to visit many doctors until he was diagnosed with autism. Autism is a neurological and behavioral problem. The exact cause of autism is still under investigation. However, researches suggest that a combination of factors - genetic and environmental - may account for changes in brain development. The experts said autism is much more common than most people think. There are over half a million people in the UK with autism - that's around 1 in 100 people. "Before coming to a school for autistic children, my baby used to go to a normal school. But as she was introvert and did not communicate much with other students, the parents of the school termed my baby mad. The baby somehow heard it and was so upset that she did not want to go to that school anymore. Even when we walked past the school which was nearby our house, she began screaming," said grandmother of Lagna, another autistic child. "Lagna is now doing very well. She can do her works by herself. She draws beautiful pictures and stands first in her class," said the grandmother. "Autistic children are not mad. Somehow they have some problems in brain development, that is why they behave not like other children," said Dr Rownak Hafiz, chairman of Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF). Early diagnosis and intensive behavioral intervention can have a significant and lasting positive impact on autistic children, she said. "People come to know about autism gradually and taking their children to doctors and specialists, the rate of autism diagnosis has been increased." While talking to The Daily Star Dr Farzana Islam of Child Development Centre at Dhaka Shishu Hospital said 60 percent of the total children currently coming to this centre are autistic. Quoting a study conducted jointly by the BPF and the Child Development Centre in the capital, she said there are three autistic patients in every 1000 children. The centre works on autism diagnosis, management and basis intervention like functional and psychological assessment of children. "Still I get panicked when I think of those days. I woke up at midnight and found my boy sitting on the Almirah and trying to catch the fan. He was so restless. He broke all the things he got before him and could not talk," said mother of another autistic child, Ador. The neighbors also were annoyed with Ador trying to take things from their houses, which he liked. They understand that his behaviour was not normal, but they didn't try to cooperate, said the mother. But Ador has improved much after getting admitted to the school of Autism Welfare Foundation where special care is taken for autistic children. They are encouraged to do creative works what they like. But unfortunately such schools are limited to the capital. Parents having autistic children and living outside Dhaka also need some supports for their children's upbringing, and inclusive education system, said the mother.