Your child is my child – Creating awareness on autism

A complex development disability is mushrooming unnoticed in our societies, in a form of Autism. Only a few people are aware of it, but the majority of the community remains unaware.

Many researches described autism in the same way but different. It is a lifelong development disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism is high and it has a tremendous impact on children, their families and the societies. It affects five times more boys than girls.

The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal function, affecting development of the person’s communication and social interaction skills. Autism comes with challenges to social integration, speech impediments, which includes being mute and sensory disintegration.

Doctors can tell you that it affects children differently and no child is the same as the next child. It is not the parent’s fault to give birth to a child with autism. They have a high hyper and they think quickly in general. Autistic children are very intelligent. It is a blessing to have such a child.

There are parents who do not understand if their children have been diagnosed with autism. You find that some parents lock them inside the house. Some put them on a chain due to the high hyperactive. But most them like to play isolated, they don’t like eye contact with people. Some become scared to see a crowd of people, some become happy and scream for joy. Some will run away from a big audience or crowd.

What is amazing about autistic children is that they choose a spot to play. Some will choose to play in the neighbour’s yard. Once the child chooses the neighbour’s yard as a spot of play, most of the time you will find him playing there. My appeal to members of the society, especially neighbours, should understand the behaviours of those children. We must have the spirit of “Your child is my child”. Autistic children in most cases, they dislike physical contact and they prefer to play alone. They prefer to play with pit sand, water and puzzles. They also prefer horse riding as a therapy, swing and swimming.

All in all, autism affects five more boys than girls.

Language and Communication

Autistic children in general had a language problem. The development of speech and language may be abnormal, absent or delayed. There may be minimal reaction when people talk to them or they appear to be deaf. Some of these children may repeat words over and over again. They may be seen not to be paying attention or be unresponsive when you talk to them. It differs with the children, some may not understand tone of voices, but they understand the body language.

Behaviour Observation

Members of the society may also observe people or children with autism with the following features: they have little or no eye contact. They don’t fear for danger, Crying or laughing for no apparent reason. You may observe self injurious behaviour, head banging, scratching, biting special when frastreted and abnormal sleep pattern.

Education

Parents will find it difficult to take their children to public schools. Few special schools that specialised with autism in the country with limited resources. In Mbombela, only Dasha Foundation, but they can only accommodate seven children due to facilities. There is a need for a school that specialises with autism, we appeal to our government, political leaders to assist those children.

Health

A big challenge is lack of appropriate medication at public clinics and hospitals. The available ones are costly and the services are unaffordable. Availability of doctors (Neurologist) who understand autism for accurate diagnosis. Parents had to take their children to other provinces for screening and assessment of their children and it’s also costly.

My appeal is that members of the society should be aware of this kind of disability, they must accept them as human beings. To parents with autistic children, they must form support groups to share the experience with their children and they will assist each other. There are a number of Autism groups, like Autism South Africa.

In the next, column, we focus more on the causes of autism and early intervention.

Im sharing this information as a parent of a child with autism.