Autistic children are usually supersmart: psychologists

LAHORE

Civil society members leading a walk to observe World Autism Awareness Day on Saturday urged the government to amend the country’s disability laws saying  number of recognised disabilities needed to be increased from four to 17 at least including autism.

A large number of students from different universities and the parents of children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) participated in the walk held at Main Boulevard Gulberg. Autism Spectrum Disorders Resource Centre (ASDRC) organised the walk.

Speaking on the occasion, eminent clinical psychologists and experts said autism was not a mental retardation as was widely considered due to unawareness. They said children suffering from it were usually super smart and had extraordinary abilities. They have a different way of processing information; the speakers said adding problem was with us that we were not able to understand them and their world.

ASDRC Director Rukhsana Shah said autistic children, just characterised by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviours, could have superb abilities in art, music, computers, technology, machines etc. “It’s just we need to explore their potentials”, she said and laid a stress on developing more support, awareness, understanding and improved standards of education for such children.    

Talking about the flaws in country’s laws, Rukhsana said developmental disorders were neither mentioned in the Mental Health Ordinance 2001, nor in the National Trust for the disabled. On the other hand, the Indian National Trust Act 1999 and laws and in many other countries specifically mentions “Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities”, she added. India is further increasing the number of recognised disabilities from seven to 19, while in Pakistan there are only four categories in the Disability Acts of 1981, 2012 (Punjab) and 2014 (Sindh) — visual and hearing impairments, physical disabilities and mental retardation, she added.  

The participants of the walk were carrying posters and placards while awareness pamphlets on symptoms of autism were also distributed among people.  The symptoms of the disorder include difficulty in mixing with other children; insistence on sameness; resistance to changes in routine; inappropriate laughing and giggling; no fear of dangers; little or no eye contact; sustained odd play; apparent insensitivity to pain; echolalia (repeating words or phrases in place of normal language); prefers to be alone; may not want cuddling, or act cuddly; spins objects; not responsive to verbal cues; acts as deaf; inappropriate attachment to objects; and difficulty in expressing needs.