<i>Stand by autistic children, parents urge govt</i>
Parents living with autistic children have urged the government to stand by them with sustainable programmes for healthy growth of the victims as the ongoing international conference on autism came as a beacon light to the families concerned.
Talking to the news agency on the sidelines of the meet, several parents of autistic children said the neurobiological disorders exposed their children to a cruel social reality when none but fathers and mothers would come to their help as they are generally considered mad by the society.
Innovative and sustainable programmes by the government alongside the private initiatives and social groups are crucially needed to resolve the autism problem that appears in the first three years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills, they opined while describing the heartbreaking experience they are facing in the society.
Parents of Adil, Ork and Srijon echoed the same and appealed to the government to set up specialised educational institutions to take care of the autistic babies side by side raising massive awareness. Sharing experience about the struggle in facing autism Dr Lidi Huq whose son was affected by autism in nine months of his birth in London said, she identified the disease earlier as she is a physician by profession. She takes her baby to a Child Develop Center in London where the doctor tells her that the child will be all right gradually.
Dr Lidi Huq, who went to London for professional reason, said Adil was admitted to the autistic school and he was given lesson under a tutor also.
“My son was taught by the teachers at the autistic schools and later taken to the normal school. A positive change came in his behavioral pattern as he was following the procedures and instructions given by the teachers,” she said, adding that her son participated in an art competition and won the Egyptian award at the age of 15.
Dr Huq who did her PhD in medicine became an autism expert after caring her son and running an autism consultation center in Dhaka said she has been able to overcome autism problem of her son to some extent after diagnosing the disease on time, and getting cooperation from the government of UK.
She urged the government to give priority to autism issue and set up specialised institutions including state-sponsored consultation centres in the country.
Syeda Shanewaz Latik and Kaisul Momen Kakon, parents of Aninda Momen Ork, another autistic baby who was affected by autism at the age of two and a half years, tell about unfriendly and negative attitude of society that compelled them to live in almost isolation.
“Normally we refrain from attending the social functions as people look at my son and the family in differently,” said Latika who dedicated herself in taking care of her child after resigning from the job at a private farm. She said, “My relatives do not visit my residence, not even the neighbours after my child became autistic.
Learning from the media about the conference on autism where the world leaders are participating, both Latika and Kakon sought prime minister's intervention in establishing specialised autism institutions in the country.
Echoing Dr Lidi Huq, Latika and Kakon, other parents of autistic children like Srijon, Sheikh, Tahmina, Shamim also urged the government to set up autism centres in all the districts to diagnose and manage autism.
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