by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Today, April 2, the world observes Autism Awareness Day. The theme for 2017 is: Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination.
The UN estimates that about 1 per cent of children and young people are affected by autistic spectrum disorder, which refers to a wide range of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The Mayo Clinic defines autism spectrum disorder as “a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviours, interests and activities. These issues cause significant impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning….
“The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is rising. It’s not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting or a real increase in the number of cases, or both. While there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children… Autism spectrum disorder has no single known cause. Given the complexity of the disorder, and the fact that symptoms and severity vary, there are probably many causes. Both genetics and environment may play a role.”
A recent letter in the UK Guardian entitled: ‘A proper analysis of autism is long overdue’, is instructive. In it, Michael Baron, co-founder and former chairman of the National Autistic Society, UK, states: “the word ‘autism’ has been in use since it was first coined by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in the 1920s. The time has come for the label describing so many different conditions to be revisited. It is difference, social difficulty, disability and diversity that should be analysed – and not one of the behaviours, i.e. withdrawal…”
Although large proportions of autistic persons are mentally challenged or have severe learning disabilities, it is estimated that about 10 per cent of autistic persons have outstanding talents in music, art or ‘savant skills’ in mathematics. This includes the ability to multiply large numbers in their head within a short period of time; to determine the day of the week when given a specific date in history or memorise complete airline schedules. In the movie The Rainman, Dustin Hoffman played a very realistic and convincing part of such an autistic person.
Autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire sketches the London skyline. Source: dailymail.co.uk
Read about Stephen Wiltshire, the British-born architectural artist of Caribbean origin. He was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. “He is known for his ability to draw from memory a landscape after seeing it just once” (Wikipedia). For example, he “memorised the appearance and position of hundreds of London’s buildings in exact scale during a helicopter ride along the Thames. Over the next five days in 2008, the then 33-year-old drew the seven-square mile panorama, including key landmarks on a 13 ft curving canvas. He received an MBE for his services to art in 2006, has a gallery in Pall Mall” (Daily Mail).
Prof Jill Boucher, Dept of Psychology, City University of London states: “There is an unanswerable case for the value of people with ‘high-functioning’ autism to society, where their particular talents enable them to make significant contributions to academic subjects such as computer science or theoretical physics. For these people, also, it is possible to achieve good quality of life. These two facts argue against attempting to prevent or cure autism itself. By contrast, the additional problems of language and learning cry out for research into their prevention or alleviation. Research into the linked language and learning difficulties which so frequently co-occur with autism is sparse.”
A few years ago, I delivered the feature address at the AGM of the Autistic Society of T&T (ASTT); their headquarters is located at 5 Ragoo Road, D’Abadie. I first met ASTT’s President, Teresina Sieunarine when I worked in the Education sector in London. The organisation is in need of financial support to facilitate their work with the 650 persons who are registered with them. Please contact their office at 646-5506 and visit their website, www.autismtt.org.
Get a copy of the recent publication by Joy Valdez, entitled: We Live and Love Too. She is the co-ordinator of a support group for parents who have adult children with autism. The book features “a collection of personal stories told from the perspective of people with autism and their families”. Parents play a crucial role. Successful intervention rests on positive and close collaboration between parents and schools. Early/targeted intervention is essential. The everyday challenges faced by persons on the autistic spectrum, and their families, in gaining appropriate support to meet their needs/improve their quality of life is great.
Collaborative partnership between government ministries and NGOs e.g. ASTT, will enable us to harness the support of the community and enhance the quantity and quality of the resources/opportunities we can provide for persons with autism. We must explore methods that play to the strengths of persons with autism rather than constantly exposing their weaknesses.
