Silchar, Aug. 12: Every autistic child is special, said the secretary of an NGO during the launch of a drive to create awareness on autism here today.
Era Amader, a Silchar-based NGO, in association with Pradip Centre for Autism Management, Calcutta, is holding a three-day workshop-cum-training session for the guardians of autistic children, who need special care and understanding.
Narayani Deb, secretary of Era Amader, said every autistic child should be treated “nicely” because he or she is a human being first.
Era Amader, which has been working with autistic children of Barak Valley since 2008, has a special home here at Das Colony where autistic children are counselled and given training so that they can lead a normal life.
Deb said they welcome every autistic child to their special home. “I stay with the children in the special home along with my son who is physically challenged. Our main aim is to create awareness among the people about autism so that every autistic child is treated as a special child,” she added.
Mallika Banerjee, the head of psychology department, Calcutta University, today said autism should not be compared to physical disability.
“A child is autistic when he or she faces problem in communication, socialisation and flexibility. An autistic child cannot express his feelings and find difficulties in coding different messages,” she added,
Banerjee said though a section of people say that autistic children should be allowed to go to general schools, there is a need to impart special training to them so that they do not face any bias.
“I am against inclusive educations. I first want social inclusion of these children,” she added.
Banerjee, who delivered the key-note address at the workshop, said it requires two years from the birth of a child to understand if he suffers from autism.
The focus of the workshop is on different therapies for autism.