Mentally challenged and autistic

I had an opportunity to attend a workshop on autism and adolescents. It was on Sunday and the main resource person was Dr.Vasudha Prasad from Chennai. The young lady has her own special school in Chennai for autistics since last 8 years.She has done her masters in psychology and then PhD in special education. As usual it was inaugurated by a political person and a businessman from Nagpur.This workshop was organized by a special school for autistics, Sanwedana and Vishwas, a parent body for autistic children.

It is amusing to see NGO's calling so called big people for such programmes. Why can not we think about calling really good people who can motivate us in a true sence. I feel so uncomfortable when a politician and or businessman talking about morality, sincerity and honesty. They try to advice these selfless workers who represent these sincere NGO's. I do not find these politicians or corrupt bureaucrat or a corrupt industrialist at fault. It is we, i.e. NGo's who can not control their temptation of calling such people. Probably it must be with the expectation of getting some financial help or some favour for getting land or some publicity. I might be wrong also. But otherwise I do not find any justification or a valid reason for calling these personalities in such programmes. But probably all other NGO's think in different way.

I did attend the workshop till 12.30 pm. it had a lecture from Dr.Pangaonkar and then by Dr.Mrs.Vasudha Prasad. I felt whatever was talked about autistics, it was with reference to adolescents and that too without mental retardation. Most of the things talked about there were known to me and most of that we are already implementing, and the same things we have been telling to parents of our students also. The point which these professionals do not talk is about differential diagnosis of autism associated with MR or without MR. Unless we are sure that the child is not MR and only autistic, course of approach can not be decided. We are likely to go grossly wrong in our planning, both academic and structural. Whatever I have been reading, it suggests that more than seventy percent children with autism are MR also. In my opinion this associated condition makes the management of these children more difficult and complex as well.

I there fore always feel that if we can differentiate these two conditions i.e. ASD and ASD with MR than, for workers and curriculum planers it will be more focussed. I am eagerly waiting if some one will help us in this regard.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

Website:www.sandnya.org email: navindesh@gmail.com