WORLD AUTISM AWARNESS DAY (APRIL-2)

WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY (APRIL-2)

Autism is a neural disorder, characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social interactions, and by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, according to health experts. For decades, autism went largely undiagnosed in China and the Chinese government only recognized it as a mental disability in 2006. At least 1.5 million children in China have autism, as medical studies suggest the disease may strike one in every 166 children. There is no cure or widely accepted treatment for autism. And most autistic children are not able to attend a normal school where they inevitably fall behind in their studies. Rehabilitation centers often double as schools. But Pan did strike an optimistic note.

Presently there are 10 million persons with autism in India.It affects as many as one in 110 children and one in 70 boys. There is no medical cure for autism, but early diagnosis and intervention can help a person to adapt and function better.It is estimated that one out of every 150 people in   India suffers from autism disorder which appears in the first three years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills."But only a handful of professionals are there in the country to handle them. There is a supply and demand mismatch.Many therapists working in India lack complete knowledge of the subject as they don't get complete training," said Awasthi who has been working for more than 20 years in the field of autism and developmental disabilities.The Association for Behaviour Analysis International (ABA) which has centres in Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi has written to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to initiate steps to include Applied Behaviour Analysis as a subject of study in educational institutions.  

"Many people believe that autism is a life-long disease that cannot be cured, but the fact is that children have left my school healthier and happier," she told reporters. "Some even went on to normal schools afterwards. You'll be amazed by what they're capable of."However, the task of keeping the rehabilitation running remains a challenge.Pan said she invested 370,000 yuan, or about $56,000, of her personal savings to start the school. Five years on, it remains to be seen whether she will get any financial return from that investment.Taking care of autistic children is challenging. Pan said many young teachers and caregivers have given up over the past five years because of the tremendous workload and the children's difficult behavior, which can sometimes be very violent."Autistic children may sometimes attack you," Pan said revealing scars on her arms. "It's never easy."There is still no college or public school in China particularly trains people to teach autistic children. And a career as a teacher of autistic children is not appealing. There are also times when Pan was so cash-strapped that she had to delay paying salaries to the center's teachers and workers. The challenges Pan faces are common for caretakers of autistic children elsewhere.In Tianjin, an industrial city south of Beijing, managers of an autism rehabilitation center complained that it is hard to register the center as an NGO and difficult to raise funds, and they can not rent offices large enough and invest in better facilities."Sometimes our children have to sleep on the mats spread out on the floor because we simply don't have enough space," said Huang Dongying, head of the Child's Noah Autistic Children Training Center in Tianjin.

In Ningxia Hui autonomous region, there are only three schools, two of which are privately run, for autism rehabilitation, but the number of children needing help exceeds 2,000.In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, in an effort to draw attention to a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions around the globe.Pan said she hopes this year's Autism Awareness Day will help her center win more support from the government, and understanding from the general public. Indeed, the China Disabled Persons' Federation declared in March that the government-sponsored association would give 36,000 impoverished autistic children aged three to six a subsidy of 12,000 yuan each by 2015. Aid pledges were also made by charity groups such as One Foundation, which was founded by movie star Jet Li.

The foundation, cooperating with 103 autism rehabilitation centers across the country, has organized a 40-day nationwide campaign from March 19 to raise public awareness of the mental disease. Buildings will go blue in cities, and online charity sales and street campaigns will also be held.A spokesman for the foundation said, "we urge the public to care for people with autism, to help them reintegrate into the soc The Golden Baby Special School which Pan Xuejun runs in the northwestern city of Lanzhou is one of few private rehabilitation centers across China that struggles to cater to the special needs of autistic children, against a backdrop of inadequate funding, lack of professionals, and public misunderstanding."Treatment for autism requires huge investments of both time and money, which many families can't afford," said Pan, the 37-year-old former kindergarten teacher."As a mother myself, I understand the pains of parents of autistic children," she said.
      The term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of developmental brain disorders exhibiting a variety of symptoms and levels of impairment. ASD can affect a child's ability to learn, socialize, and communicate with others. SPN101 introduces ASD and the characteristics of children who are diagnosed with various disorders within this group. The course also offers classroom strategies that support students with various types of ASD, as well as ways in which educators can support and work with families. "Given the increasing rate of ASD diagnosis, this training provides tremendous benefits to child care professionals by better preparing them to include and accommodate all children in their care," says Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO of CCEI.
                                                                       Prof. John Kurakar