Proper care, attention can help them flourish

Proper care, attention, education in congenial atmosphere and training can ensure normal growth of autistic and neuro-developmentally disabled children to flourish their inherent talents.

The opinion came at an upazila level daylong orientation workshop organised by National Academy for Autism and Neuro-developmental Disabilities in Saidpur upazila parisahd auditorium of Nilphamari yesterday.

The Autistic Academy Establishment Project of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education extended cooperation in arranging the event.

Government officials, union chairmen, teachers, NGO executives, guardians of children with special needs, and civil society members participated.

Saidpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Saleh Md Musa Jongi and Upazila Secondary Education Officer (USEO) Shakerina Begum attended the workshop.

"The autistic, neuro-developmentally disabled and physically challenged children have enormous latent talents, they equally deserve constitutional rights in getting all privileges and proper care can turn them into worthy citizens," said Dr Mahazur Alam, upazila health and family planning officer.

He also stressed on creating awareness among pregnant mothers.

Shakerina Begum put importance on ensuring inclusive education for autistic and neuro-developmentally disabled children in classrooms and asked the teachers for taking proper care and giving due attention for flourishing their talents.

The UNO called upon all concerned to come forward with holistic approaches for flourishing inherent talent of autistic and neuro-developmentally disabled children.