Autism is more than observable behaviour: it is a way of thinking and experiencing the world.

World Autism Day: 2nd April, 2020

Autism Week: 30th March - 5th April, 2020

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopment condition with an early onset in

childhood that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.

A person who is on the Autism Spectrum experiences the world around them

differently, which can impact their intellectual, emotional, social-communication, and

motor skills. This makes it daunting for them to relate to our typical world, and it not

only affects the individual but their whole family.

Since Autism is a spectrum condition, all individuals who are diagnosed with it

may share similar characteristics but will experience their condition differently. It is

characterised by repeated patterns of behaviour, and can vary from mild or moderate, to

severe.

Why is it that everyone who identifies as autistic or on the autism spectrum is so

different?

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a broad term and a lot of people fall under that

category. It is a term describing cognitive differences in an individual and therefore

everyone who is diagnosed with ASD is going to be different. You cannot apply the same

knowledge nor can you expect them to be similar. There will be a lot of diversity within

the group of individuals with autism.

As the cliche goes “if you have met one person with autism, you have met one

person with autism”.

Across the vast population of India (1.3 billion), one third of its population is

constituted by children <15years, and it has been estimated that more than 2 million

individuals are on the autism spectrum (Krishnamurthy, 2008). The prevalence rate is

higher in boys than in girls, as the female population is conditioned to be better at

camouflaging their mistakes and areas of difficulties. Even in schools, girls are usually

identified less often by the teachers as requiring more help. This makes it extremely

important for all of us to be aware about this condition to better help and support not only

the children who are on the spectrum but their families too.

What are some prominent characteristics of people with autism:

● Maintaining a routine

● Following patterns

● Repetitive behaviours

● Over and under sensitivity to sound, light and texture, smell, temperature and pain

● Inappropriate social behaviours

● Unusually deep or fixated interest in a subject or activity

Individuals who are diagnosed with autism tend to have cognitive delay, with 70%

of children having a non-verbal IQ of 70 or below. This impacts and affects their

learning, holistic growth and social compliance. In parallel, depending on the severity of

the condition some individuals also identified as Aspie’s (Asperger Syndrome) are linked

with average or above average intelligence and skill sets.

So how can we support individuals who are diagnosed with autism?

What can we do to make them and their families feel better?

It sometimes becomes extremely difficult to manage children and young adults

who are diagnosed with autism. Due to a lack of communication skills, especially for

children who are non verbal, it can become extremely daunting for them to express their

needs. As a result, they can have meltdowns and certain behavioural patterns that they

engage in to calm themselves. For instance, a child would bang his head, scream and

even bite himself in order to express what he wants or his feelings, which isn't how most

children would behave, even if they’re acting out. This is terrifying for a parent,

especially in an outdoor setting. The parents are usually scared or embarrassed, and

would not know how to help their child. This does not permit us to isolate or to segregate

them.

So the next time you are outside in a mall or a grocery store or a park, do not laugh

or look down upon a parent who cannot handle their child due to such a situation. It is not

bad parenting, and it is definitely not the parent’s lack of interest in taking care of their

child. Instead, try to support them and ask how you can be of help.

As an individual, it is necessary to educate yourself about the very real and widely

prevalent condition of Autism. Support mothers and fathers who might be dealing with

this - introspect and identify how you can be of help to a family who has a child with

autism. Your child will probably have a classmate who is also diagnosed with Autism.

Help your child learn about autism and how to make their classmate feel included rather

than looked down upon or laughed at.

There are standardised intervention plans and various therapies that can benefit an

individual diagnosed with Autism. Some parents, albeit not enough, do take their child

for therapy which is extremely beneficial but as responsible members of society, the only

productive way we can help these families is by being more empathetic, sensitive and

aware of the situation.

Stigma affects not only the number of people seeking treatment, but also the

number of resources available for proper treatment. Stigma and misinformation can feel

like overwhelming obstacles for someone who is struggling with a mental health

condition. The first step towards acceptance is acknowledgement, and as we progress into

the modern 21st century, it is imperative that we as a society embrace mental health and

mental illnesses as normal, widely-prevalent and manageable.

Let me leave you with some quick but powerful things you can do to be of

immediate help:

1. Show respect, acceptance and love!

2. Ensure the individuals on the spectrum get the same opportunities as you in

school, at work and in the society.

3. Never stop learning about mental health and how it affects human life!