Creating autism awareness

A recent survey has revealed that there are currently 17 thousand autistic children in Bangladesh. The rate is increasing day by day, but we are still far behind in addressing the issue. Gross negligence and ignorance leads us to treating them as a burden on our society. In order to prevent this, it is important to understand autism.

Autism is a neurological problem caused by unusual organic chemical activity in the brain, abnormal brain development, genetic abnormalities, etc. Sometimes, if a mother suffers from viral fever and takes excessive antibiotics during pregnancy, the child is impacted negatively and is born with autism. Symptoms of autism can be noticed in a child's lack of response to his/her name or to playing games, their avoidance of eye contact, recurrence of speech errors, or unusual reactions to sound, smell, taste, or touch. If detected early enough, the child can be helped and given appropriate attention. Bangladesh has made some commendable strides in addressing autism, such as the establishment of Centre for Neurodevelopment and Autism in Children (CNAC), among others. The government must create stronger and more far-reaching awareness regarding autism in Bangladesh, and ensure that adequate help and education is provided in all strata of the society. 

Mamunur Rashid

Special Needs Education Centre

Jahangirnagar University