THRISSUR: Punctuated by blaring speakers and accompanied by a show of music and dance by an assorted band of school children, the World Autism Day celebration at Peringavu Special School here drew attention on the need to impart special training for the disabled children to go for mainstream professions. “Currently, there are no centres in the state that provide rehabilitation of autistic victims. Facilities like occupational therapy are available only in hospitals like Vellore,” said Dr Anantha Keshavan, state president of Indian Academy of Paediatrics.
Parents came with their children, aged between five and eleven, for a disability identification programme organised at the venue.
“My child has difficulty in understanding the subjects taught at school,” said the parent of Achu, who was diagnosed with autism. He never plays along with the other children. He does the same thing over and over again. However, he is the only child in the class who has not received a disability certificate,” complained Achu’s mother.
“The tendency to remain alone is common in such children. But, such a tendency should not take root inside the child. They must gradually encourage the child to mix with other children,” said C T Ajith Kumar, school administrator .
According to Dr K S Vijayalakshmi, director of the special school and the mother of an autistic boy, medicines don’t come in much use for an autistic child.
“Repetitive behaviour and difficulty in communication are some of the symptoms of the disorder. Its root cause has not yet been discovered. Diagnosing the disease and imparting training at a very young age is very important to dilute the effects later on in life. It is especially necessary when the child approaches sexual maturity’” she said.