A mother who recently visited Alokdhara Inclusive Montessori School to admit her son left after she came to know that the school has children with autism among its students. It is this mindset that the school seeks to change.
Children with autism need acceptance, not sympathy — this was the message Alokdhara set out to spread with a rally on April 2, World Autism Day.
“Many feel that our school is not really for all students but is more attuned towards the children who have been diagnosed as autistic. As such, the school is not a ‘normal school’ and as could be expected the student count has gone down greatly post-pandemic. Parents are of the notion that ‘my child is not autistic’, so why should they be studying at schools where such students are being trained for the future,” said Krishna Roy, founder president and former principal of Alokdhara.
Dressed in blue, the officially designated colour across the world for showing people’s support for autism awareness, teachers and staff members walked the lanes and bylanes of Kasba. They also handed out blue ribbons to passersby and locals, urging them to support the cause.
Alokdhara members tie blue ribbons on a traffic cop and an onlooker to create awareness about autism
The theme for UN World Autism Awareness Day this year was Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking.
Alokdhara, a registered charitable organisation and an autism-specific school, has been dedicating its services to the local community ever since its inception.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have trouble with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviour or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention and is something that one is born with. Persons with autism often face discrimination and other challenges, which only aggravates their condition.
With advances in modern education, knowledge societies across the world are focusing on accepting, supporting and including persons with autism and advocating for their rights. This is a major transformation that is enabling autistic people to claim their dignity and self-esteem and to become fully integrated as valued members of their families and societies.
