Autism Awarness

 April 2nd, is recognized worldwide as Autism Awareness Day, highlighting the need for widespread awareness, specialized interventions, and opportunities for the holistic development of individuals with autism. Let us understand what autism is. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication, behavior, and social cognition.

We will emphasize and understand three major aspects that can have a significant impact on the overall process of identification, intervention, and development, which are crucial in the long run.

The first aspect is the early identification of autism, which plays a crucial role in improving developmental outcomes. Awareness among parents is essential to identify the early signs of autism, and adequate training of pediatricians, who serve as the first point of contact for children's healthcare, is necessary. Knowledge of children's developmental milestones is crucial for understanding the early signs of autism.

The second aspect is specialized intervention, where a team approach is required to bring about holistic change. Individuals with autism struggle with maintaining relationships and understanding social cues, which can be addressed by PSCHOLOGISTS. Learning difficulties can be assisted by SPECIAL EDUCATORS. Challenges in performing day-to-day activities can be managed by OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, while movement and mobility difficulties can be assisted by PHYSIOTHERAPISTS . Communication, language, and speech-related difficulties are handled by SPEECH THERAPISTS. Therefore, it is important to bring together psychologists, special educators, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and physiotherapists to work as a team towards the development of children with autism.

The third aspect involves government schemes that support interventions. One such scheme is the Legal Guardianship Scheme under the National Trust Act by the Government of India, which involves appointing a guardian to care for and represent a person with a disability, ensuring their welfare and legal rights are protected. Other schemes include the Unique Disability ID (UDID) scheme, which provides individuals with disabilities a unique ID upon enrollment, the Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) scheme, a therapeutic approach to address sensory processing challenges, and the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), a standardized tool used to assess and quantify autistic symptoms.

Recognizing these schemes is necessary, along with involving NGOs, corporates, and other institutions that provide these interventions in a cost-effective manner, making them accessible and affordable to everyone, including rural areas. Currently, autism awareness is more prominent in urban areas than in rural ones, so providing appropriate infrastructure affordably will help reach people in rural areas as well.

Apart from education, interventions, and approaches, it is also necessary to ensure that individuals with ASD are trained in skills that are useful in real-world settings, thus integrating them into society and creating employment opportunities to promote their inclusion and overall development.

As a society, let us join hands to integrate individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder by raising awareness among parents and pediatricians, enhancing multidisciplinary intervention frameworks, and ensuring employment opportunities. By doing so, we can build an inclusive society that enables individuals with autism to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.

Dr Jagadish A, MD (Psy)

Consultant Psychiatrist

Abhaya Hospital

Ms Vismita Kurup

Intern