Whether an unreasonable airline denies them boarding or an inconsiderate doctor refuses examination, autistic people have been long facing unnecessary discrimination for no fault of theirs. Experts nonetheless believe that awareness and a little empathy are the only solutions that could improve the situation.
Worldwide, April 2 is celebrated as the World Autistic Awareness Day to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults with Autism so that they can lead full and meaningful lives.
Autism is an incurable complex neurobiological condition that impacts communication, behaviour and social relationships, affecting 1 in 110 people, it has become the fastest growing global disorder.
According to experts -- Autism is an invisible condition that is an autistic person may not necessarily be on a wheel chair or on crutches so people don’t accommodate for the person. People tend to relate autism with rude behaviour and this is all because of lack of awareness.
The discrimination against autistic people is traumatising especially for the parents and there is an urgent need to spread awareness to demystify it.
As per a parent a dentist refused to check her autistic kid because she won’t sit still. The doctor neither had the time nor the patience so she was shown the door.
For 36-year-old Abha Singh, it was a harrowing experience last year when she decided to fly from Kolkata to Delhi with her autistic 13-year-old daughter.
He daughter was sitting on her seat and just flapping her arms. The next thing they know they were asked to get off the flight as her child was a potential risk to other passengers.
Its cases like these which add to the vow of the parents who are already reeling under the stress of raising an autistic child which can be quite draining both physically and mentally.
Worse there are parents who blame themselves for their child being autistic. But as per experts that’s not the right attitude and would damage both the parent as well as the child in the long run.
Instead, the best solution is to be well informed about the condition of a child and have realistic expectation.
