The world including Bangladesh has observed once again the ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ on 2 April. We have reiterated our belief that all of us should attach more significance in the achievement of a ‘Neuro Inclusive World. For All’ that can help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from this disorder.
In this context one has to realize that the autism rights movement, also known as the autistic acceptance movement, has been for some time a socio-medical movement. The movement has advocated for more than a decade several goals, including greater acceptance of autistic traits and behaviors; services that focus on improving quality of life and well-being instead of suppression and masking of autistic traits that are not harmful or imitations of the behaviors of non-autistic peers. It also reiterates not only the creation of social networks and events that allow autistic people to socialize on their own terms but also the recognition of the autistic community.
Autism rights correctly advocates the belief that autism should be accepted as a natural human expression and be accommodated like any other condition related to disability. Such a perspective would then help us to understand that autism is not a genetic defect or caused by environmental factors or through the misuse emanating from vaccines.
We need to understand that individuals affected by autism absorb information from their senses as do non-autistic people.
sThe difference is they are not able to process it in the same manner and as fast as their neuro-typical peers. This affects their ability to store and absorb information.
Consequently, sometimes persons affected with autism appear to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of input of sensory information. As such, they may experience difficulty in public settings. However, knowing about these differences and how to react effectively helps to create a more inclusive society. It also better suits the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
According to medical psychologists, being autism friendly requires being able to impart understanding and flexibility in interpersonal conversation, public programs and public settings. For example, a person might think that someone is being rude if they will not look them in the eyes or not understand denotations and connotations of a word. On the other hand one must understand that an autism-friendly environment means those the affected will have a manageable degree of sensory stimuli, which will make them calmer, better able to process the sensory stimulation they receive, and better able to relate to others within the context of social interaction. This improves the atmosphere within the paradigm.
Organizations interested in spreading awareness about autism and how to be autism friendly have created training programs for communities to illustrate how people with autism may communicate or interact differently from neurotypical people, or people without autism. There are also suggestions for how to modify one's reaction to improve communication.
In this context some thoughtful psycho-therapeutic suggestions have been brought forward. It is important that we try to follow this path. This will definitely help in creating a more congenial atmosphere and better understanding with the affected persons.
They are:- (a) when one finds out that someone may not be able to look them in their eyes, one should realize that they are not trying to be rude, and it is uncomfortable for them to do so; (b) a person may have difficulty understanding figurative expressions and interpret a phrase literally. In such a situation one should try to express views directly and factually instead of symbolically; (c) we need to remember that body language expressions like physically turning away from someone may be cues that are missed by an autistic person. It would be better to be direct and factual; (d) we also need to bear in mind that the concerned person may have some limitations in terms of using vocabulary. Patience would be helpful in such a situation. This will allow the concerned person to understand what was said. If necessary one could also try and avail of communicating through sign language.
In fact their sensory stimulus could be distracting enough to cause pain because of hypersensitivity. This factor needs to be remembered to enable the creation of an autism-friendly environment.
We need to march forward together and
reduce differences so that our society can
enrich itself, particularly in all its
neuro-inclusive dimensions
There are several factors in creating a supportive environment. One of them is adherence to a standard routine and structure. Since change of routine can be quite anxiety-producing for many autistic people, a structured, predictable routine tends to ensure calmer and happier transitions during the day. Environments with the least amount of disruption also tend to help autistic people remain calm. For this reason it is always important to speak in quiet, non-disruptive tones and to use a physical space that has a low level of disruption. This needs to be particularly remembered within the matrix of school and recreational activities. This tends to help to minimize anxiety and distress and help an autistic person to succeed.
Psychologists and neurologists have also observed that we need to be sensitive in the creation of physical space so that it can be viewed as autism friendly. It has also been suggested by some in the United Kingdom and in Europe that it is important for rooms to be decorated with serenity in mind, like painting the walls with “soothing colors, having thick carpeting on the floor and double-paned glass to help minimize distracting noise”.
It would also be important for us to remember that providing the best outcomes for a child with neuro-diversity within the autism spectrum may be difficult, complicated by each child's unique way of managing communication and interaction with others. As such teacher effectiveness can be best optimized based upon their awareness of the differences along the autism spectrum and the consequences resulting from developmental disability.
Teachers must also give students with autism extra time to answer when they ask them a question. Children with autism take time to process information but they are listening and will respond.
Analysts associated with autism have specially referred to the efforts undertaken in this regard by Singapore. They have particularly singled out the Path light School over there as being autism friendly. It appears that this educational institution has designed its campus to offer students "dignity" in an autism-friendly environment. The campus over there has been architecturally designed, landscaped and the interior created with a simple color scheme. There is also a high teacher to student ratio through which there is a focus on nurturing communication skills and a comprehensive life-skills training and education program.
Saima Wazed and some others including Zain Bari Rizvi will be remembered in Bangladesh for their creative efforts since 2008 in raising awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) not only within Bangladesh but also in some other regions.
They created a research-based not-for-profit organization (Shuchona Foundation) in 2014 whose effort has been directed towards the building of national and international partnerships with dedicated parents and professionals. This creative approach has brought about positive results. Professional training, and extensive awareness activities through social demonstrations have led to affected parents no longer viewing themselves as victims punished by fate for having a child with a disability. A National Strategic Plan has also been created in this regard. However, unfortunately the execution of this Plan has been slower than expected.
This needs to be corrected and taken forward faster through more constructive efforts by the electronic media. This is so because Autistic traits cannot be captured with a still photograph, and most individuals with ASD look just like any other typical person. If this measure is undertaken more extensively we will definitely have more positive results in terms of awareness and also in discarding wrong assumptions which borders on being dangerously harmful. Journalists and mainstream media can help in imparting factual and medically sound knowledge and information.
In this context, one feels, there should be an effort to broaden, diversify and extend help to the parents of affected children and also seniors by creating separate facilities within our community clinics structure. Such assistance has to be skilled in nature and needs to be available not only at the District level but right down to the Upazila platform. This will then not only facilitate access but also ensure continued monitoring of those requiring support.
We need to march forward together and reduce differences so that our society can enrich itself, particularly in all its Neuro Inclusive dimensions.
Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is an analyst specialized in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance
