“I have always accepted my son as he is; a blessing, a miracle, an absolute joy. Got him screened for autism because others were concerned,” says mother of seven-year-old Ali, who looked eager to join other children attending an event organised by the Children’s Library Complex to celebrate the International Different Abilities Day, here on Thursday.

Marrium says she had no idea what autism was when Ali was born some six years ago as she and her husband had to wait for their first child for 10 years after they got married.

“I never thought he could be autistic. To me he was just himself; an individual with his own different qualities.”

“The most pressing issue is identification,” says Fariha Mujahid, who runs SPROUT, an institution engaged in education and grooming of autistic children.

To Fariha a lack of awareness about autism and non-scientific approach prevailing among the families having autistic children is a major stumbling block.

“False consoling remarks from people around are taken very seriously, resulting in delay in seeking professional help.”

Fariha, who has earned a Level 4 Diploma in integrative psychotherapy, CPCAB, UK, says that timely intervention is critical to these children.

“The period between 18 months and three years is crucial for a child born with autism as first signs of the condition can be noticed during this time.” She advises parents to notice certain responses among their children if they feel them to be different.

“After the first year of the birth, if a child is not able to utter a word it should be taken as delayed speech,” says the expert. She counts not responding to their name, not making an eye contact, zoning out, and a heightened aversion to sensory contacts including food, colour, clothes’ texture among early warnings.

“If these signs are noticed by parents they should seek professional intervention as soon as possible,” says Fariha.

Aon Abbas Bukhari, who heads the Children’s Library Complex, says that Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a widely used mode of therapy all over the world. ABA therapist’s approach comprises techniques aimed at bringing autistic children into the mainstream by inculcating certain behaviours in them that are deemed ‘normal’ for their age. However, he, along with other experts, differs with the notion.

“Getting along with the natural and personal tendencies of the child is important instead of trying to mold him/her as per societal expectations. Ideally speaking, children should be allowed to grow as per their individual capacity and should not be tailored in a certain way to achieve the age-appropriate milestones,” says Mr Bukhari. He says that he’s noticed a compelling desire among the parents to see their autistic kids behaving like others in their age group.

“What the parents need to understand is that their child is unique and should not be compared. They will have to understand the uniqueness and try to mold themselves to accommodate it instead of molding the child.”

Ms Rizwana Ghazanfar, the chairperson of the Children’s Library Complex, was the chief guest of the event that was also visited by former governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, who now holds the portfolio of Punjab Home Deparment.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2022