Understand autism: Myths & facts

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Chennai: Most of us would help a blind person cross the road. But when it comes to an autistic child, people turn indifferent.

In an age where communication is the most important of all skills, how does an autistic child cope with a communication disorder?

Tamil actor Prithvi Raj’s 11-year-old son Ahed was not allowed to board a plane in Bangalore because airport security seemed to think that his disability made him dangerous.

"Our struggle is to make my son acceptable in the main stream society. We don't want special privileges, don’t make his life miserable please," Prithvi Raj says.

Autistic children like Ahed face insensitivity and discrimination almost everyday. When an autistic child does not make eye contact, or doesn't return a greeting, people think he's either rude or indifferent.

While the truth is that autistic children find it difficult to communicate verbally or even through gestures.

"For our children, just to look, to blow, to turn around when called. Each and everything needs to be worked upon," 'We CAN' Resource center for autism founder Hema Jairam says.

A popular misconception about autism is that it is a disability of the super intelligent and that all autistic children have a special talent.

However, therapists say that such cases are extremely rare, and most autistic children are like regular kids who could love music, hate math and be great athletes.

AUTISM TRAITS

Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words.

Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language.

Laughing or crying for no apparent reason or showing distress for reasons not apparent to others.

Preference to being alone.

Little or no eye contact.

Unresponsive to normal teaching methods.

Obsessive attachment to objects.

Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain.

No real fears of danger.

Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity.

Non-responsive to verbal cues, acting as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range.

But the challenge for an autistic child lies in overcoming his disability and making an effort to be the part of mainstream – be it education or interaction.

Life for disabled children in India is hard, the society is cruel and the government callous. Do you know of disabled children who have been discriminated against or harassed? Do you know of disabled children who are winners? Write to us or send videos through MMS to 9873544444 or e-mail at citizen@ibnlive.com