KATHMANDU, APRIL 21
A three-day Special Education Seminar and Training Programme on Autism concluded here on Monday. The event, themed 'From Awareness to Action in Autism', was jointly organised by Mental Health Nepal and Scope of Hope Foundation at the initiative of Nepal Academy of Psychology.
Autism is a developmental condition that affects an individual's social interaction, communication skills and behaviour.
Difficulties in social communication, eye contact, understanding social cues, building and expanding relationships, repetitive and restricted behaviours, challenges in following social rules, intense interest in specific subjects, and perceptual sensitivity are commonly observed in persons with autism. Autism is viewed as a spectrum because each individual shows varied symptoms and has different needs.
Some require more support, while others can live independently with minimal assistance, according to programme trainer and Director of the Nepal Academy of Psychology, Umesh Jung Parakram Shah.
No specific causes of autism have been determined yet. However, genetic factors and differences in brain and neural development are considered major contributors. Signs of autism usually appear when a child is between six to 12 months old and can often be identified between 18 to 24 months.
According to the World Health Organization, globally, one in every 100 children is estimated to have such condition. "Data shows that in the United States of America, this ratio is about one in 31," Shah said.
The increasing number of identified autism cases is attributed to greater public awareness, improved screening and advancements in early diagnosis systems. Autism is not a condition that needs to be cured; rather, one of many forms of human diversity.
He emphasised the need to remove social barriers for people living such spectrum by promoting acceptance and creating an inclusive and equitable environment to make their lives easier.
Behavioural therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, special education, and other educational and behavioural support are essential for such individuals. Recently, voices have been growing globally that people with autism need rights-based support and assistance rather than pity or charity.
It has also been stressed that they do not need isolated educational settings; instead, they require inclusive education systems where barriers to learning are minimised.
In recent years, there has been a stronger call to recognise autism as a condition of neurological diversity rather than a problem.
Media personnel, academicians, political analysts, autism specialists and psychologists participated in the event. Bipin Maurya from the Scope of Hope Foundation served as the main facilitator of the programme.