Human race can take pride in calling itself God’s best creation but not a
flawless one. There is a reason for saying so. Some children are born
with disabilities and conditions that make their lives difficult. One
such condition is Autism.
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The children with Autism deserve help and attention SPECIAL CHILDREN
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Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to other people. It also affects how he or she makes sense of the world around him or her.
Doctors say autism is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with it, share certain difficulties, this condition affects them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a life time of specialist support. People with autism may experience over or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, taste, light or colours.
Asperger syndrome is also a form of autism. People with asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may have difficulties with understanding and processing language.
People with autism have said that world, to them is a mass of people, places and events which they struggle to make sense of, and which cause them considerable anxiety. In particular, understanding and relating to other people, and taking part in everyday family and social life may be harder for them. Other people appear to know, intuitively, how to communicate and interact with each other, and some people with autism wonder why they are “different”.
The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share are sometimes known as the ‘triad of impairments’.
They are:
1. difficulty with social communication;
2. difficulty with social interaction, and
3. difficulty with social imagination.
It can be hard to create awareness of autism as people with the condition do not “Look” disabled. Parents of children with autism often say that other people simply think that their child is naughty; while adults find that they are misunderstood. All people with autism can benefit from timely diagnosis and access to appropriate services and support.
There are number of beneficial laws in India some of which are not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir due to which residents of the state are deprived of the benefits given under them being welfare legislations. One of the most important is The National Trust Act 1999 (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India) for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral palsy. Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.
Unfortunately there are no data available with the Director General of Health Services Government of India as to number of persons suffering from Autism in J&K state because of its special status. Attempts made by well meaning persons to get these data from the state authorities have proved to be a futile exercise.
The National Trust of Delhi, was started with a corpus of Rs100 crores, and every year crores of rupees are allocated to this trust by the Central Government for the welfare of the affected persons. The National Trust has good schemes for empowering persons with disabilities like NIRMAYA, GYANPRABHA, UDDYAM PRABHA, SAMARTH and INSURANCE SCHEMES.
In the absence of proper legislation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir persons suffering from Autism and other disabilities are deprived of their right to help to which they are otherwise entitled. All other states of the country are taking full benefit of the schemes mainly through voluntary organizations (NGOs). A number of NGOs from Jammu and Kashmir state have from time to time approached National Trust for funds for carrying on their objectives of helping Autistic children and others suffering from similar disabilities but National Trust has expressed helplessness as the act is not applicable to the state. It is baffling as to why the authorities of the state do not act swiftly to come to the rescue of those children and persons suffering from Autism and other similar disabilities who are entitled to help especially as funds can be obtained easily from
The National Trust for this noble cause. I do not think that there are any major obstacles in enacting laws, rules and procedures to help these children live purposeful lives. It is suggested that the J&K Government take the following steps urgently:
1. Adapt the National Trust Act 1999, being welfare legislation, in J&K State.
2. Undertake publicity with regard to autism and create public awareness about this and other developmental disorders.
3. Give benefits available to the disabled persons of the state.
4. Create special schools and recruit teachers trained in teaching children with special needs.
5. Provide financial assistance for running special Autistic schools.
6. Grant recognition and provide funds to schools running educational programmes for children with Autistic and other disabilities.
The author is a social activist. He expresses gratitude to Mr.Satish C. Kaul, Advocate Supreme Court of India for the inputs provided by him for this article. mail to: blkaul@gmail.com
Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to other people. It also affects how he or she makes sense of the world around him or her.
Doctors say autism is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with it, share certain difficulties, this condition affects them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a life time of specialist support. People with autism may experience over or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, taste, light or colours.
Asperger syndrome is also a form of autism. People with asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may have difficulties with understanding and processing language.
People with autism have said that world, to them is a mass of people, places and events which they struggle to make sense of, and which cause them considerable anxiety. In particular, understanding and relating to other people, and taking part in everyday family and social life may be harder for them. Other people appear to know, intuitively, how to communicate and interact with each other, and some people with autism wonder why they are “different”.
The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share are sometimes known as the ‘triad of impairments’.
They are:
1. difficulty with social communication;
2. difficulty with social interaction, and
3. difficulty with social imagination.
It can be hard to create awareness of autism as people with the condition do not “Look” disabled. Parents of children with autism often say that other people simply think that their child is naughty; while adults find that they are misunderstood. All people with autism can benefit from timely diagnosis and access to appropriate services and support.
There are number of beneficial laws in India some of which are not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir due to which residents of the state are deprived of the benefits given under them being welfare legislations. One of the most important is The National Trust Act 1999 (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India) for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral palsy. Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.
Unfortunately there are no data available with the Director General of Health Services Government of India as to number of persons suffering from Autism in J&K state because of its special status. Attempts made by well meaning persons to get these data from the state authorities have proved to be a futile exercise.
The National Trust of Delhi, was started with a corpus of Rs100 crores, and every year crores of rupees are allocated to this trust by the Central Government for the welfare of the affected persons. The National Trust has good schemes for empowering persons with disabilities like NIRMAYA, GYANPRABHA, UDDYAM PRABHA, SAMARTH and INSURANCE SCHEMES.
In the absence of proper legislation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir persons suffering from Autism and other disabilities are deprived of their right to help to which they are otherwise entitled. All other states of the country are taking full benefit of the schemes mainly through voluntary organizations (NGOs). A number of NGOs from Jammu and Kashmir state have from time to time approached National Trust for funds for carrying on their objectives of helping Autistic children and others suffering from similar disabilities but National Trust has expressed helplessness as the act is not applicable to the state. It is baffling as to why the authorities of the state do not act swiftly to come to the rescue of those children and persons suffering from Autism and other similar disabilities who are entitled to help especially as funds can be obtained easily from
The National Trust for this noble cause. I do not think that there are any major obstacles in enacting laws, rules and procedures to help these children live purposeful lives. It is suggested that the J&K Government take the following steps urgently:
1. Adapt the National Trust Act 1999, being welfare legislation, in J&K State.
2. Undertake publicity with regard to autism and create public awareness about this and other developmental disorders.
3. Give benefits available to the disabled persons of the state.
4. Create special schools and recruit teachers trained in teaching children with special needs.
5. Provide financial assistance for running special Autistic schools.
6. Grant recognition and provide funds to schools running educational programmes for children with Autistic and other disabilities.
The author is a social activist. He expresses gratitude to Mr.Satish C. Kaul, Advocate Supreme Court of India for the inputs provided by him for this article. mail to: blkaul@gmail.com
Source : The Greater Kashmir , 8th April 2014
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