Acing autism: the children who matter
In a world where our lives are governed by restrictive social norms and perceptions, our envisioned ideas are indeed a reflection of our personal circumstances and stereotypes. Most of us see the world through
the narrow lens of our personal experiences, thus blocking the niche for a broader, larger than life projection.
Our understanding of normal or inevitable are based on certain archetype and often dogmatic notions which dictate our behavioral and thinking patterns Intensely competitive and demanding at the same time, the society around us ingrains an ideal model of success and failure within each and every one of us.
From infanthood to adulthood the transitional and formative phases of our lives are molded by the existence of certain benchmarks, and to some extent they influence our life choices as well. For every unborn child and for every premature fetus the rat race to glory awaits the moment they are discharged from the womb.
A life, solely based on the economic principles of individualism and profit maximization, endorses nothing but a self-centered mindset, bereft of compassion. Unfortunately it is a truth we deliberately ignore most of the times, for the relentless drive towards chasing of academic and professional fulfillment often turns us oblivious to the more humane, subtle aspects of life
Twelve year old Joyeeta, is a passionate painter. One look at her bedroom walls, decorated with vibrant paintings, will tell
you much about her enthusiasm for art.
However if one is careful enough to observe, they might identify the repetitive pattern within all her works- almost all of them constitute illustrations of a village scene, with a setting sun in the background. Neera does not prefer any form of social interaction and has been a reclusive child since childhood. She has no friends and peers of her age, because of her irritable, monotonous nature and the fact that she tends to avoid eye contact while speaking. Joyeeta is actually one of the many sufferers of a neurodevelopment disorder called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism in short.
As a human being, we ought to be sensitive to the plights of the less fortunate around us, those who are not as privileged as blessed. A sound intellect is something we take for granted, perhaps because it is something that normal people like us are endowed with. Thus those who do not qualify for this homogenous classification are described as abnormal and unjustly shunned by the society. Living reclusive lives, sufferers of the Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD) ,more commonly known as Autism are those carrying the lifelong curse of mental incapacitation. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.
These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autistic patients are known to be intellectually impaired, due to a developmental setback affecting the proper functioning of motor neurons, a special term known as neurological disorder.
Symptoms of autism are fully visible within three years of birth, commonly diagnosed by the recognized retardation of social communication and interaction skills. Children suffering from ASD are likely to have restricted mobility and minimal physical movement, which can be imputed upon their degenerative cognitive skills
ASD is not like other developmental disorders. Among three vital features of autistic children, the most conspicuous is the manifestation of anti-social behavior, and aversion to any kind of physical contact or display of affection. Speech and language are delayed among autism patients and no babbling by age of one year is found. Common symptoms displayed are lapses in any form of verbal and non-verbal communication.
Short tempered and impulsive, autistic patients have a tendency to obsess over specific objects, like a toy for example. Sometimes around three years are needed to gauge the full range of autistic features for diagnosis. Besides, an autistic child may have co-morbid mental health problem like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, aggressive behavior, intellectual deficiencies and physical health problems like sleep disturbances, eating disorders, epilepsy etc.
Recreational Therapy is a name given to the treatment aimed remediation and rehabilitation of those with a disability that restricts physical activity. The therapy helps improve motor, social and cognitive functioning and generates greater self-confidence and includes leisure activities like sports, dancing and singing. One of the most renowned initiatives involving the concept of recreational therapy is the Acing Autism Foundation of USA, working tirelessly to counter physical degeneration among autistic children
Acing Autismfoundation , a noble initiative founded in the summer of 2008 and the brainchild of Richard Spurling Dr. Shafali Jeste in Boston( MA) , aims to make the sport of tennis available to children with autism spectrum disorders as a means to enhance health, fitness, hand-eye coordination, motor development and to improve their social skills, dispelling the stigmas associated with autism. One might find it hard to believe, but the organization has been successfully operating across some of the largest cities in USA including Texas, Illinois, California, Dallas and Washington D.C, thanks to the tremendous response from across the country. Tennis and autism seemed like a far-fetched, an impossible alliance till Acing Autism came into the picture. However, working with 500 children across 30 cities, the organization continues to pursue its mission- to connect kids with tennis.
The autism campaign in Bangladesh was spearheaded by Sayma Wazed Putul, daughter of incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh was also the host to South Asias biggest and first ever Autism Meet in 2011, a remarkable initiative to promote awareness, treatment, research on autism and a legislative framework for autistic children. The much lauded event comprised of a very high profile guest list, including Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Indian National Congress and other acclaimed political dignitaries of South Asia.
A survey carried out by icddrb among 388 mothers in Dhaka who care for autistic children, revealed that one out of every four of them suffered from depression. One of the underlying reasons triggering such psychological vulnerabilities among parents is the very restricted amount of social acceptance, stigmas and taboos associated with autism. Parents feel ashamed of their childs cognitive disability and are not comfortable to talk about with others. Much of this attitude can be attributed to the lack of empathy and compassion towards such children with special need. It is high time that caregivers to autistic children realize that they too have a right to lead a normal life, and should not be shunned or isolated by the society. To treat these children as outcasts or pariahs is an inhuman thing to do, because like other children, they too are Almightys gifts.
Because they too, matter!!!n
