Autistic people are not the burden, rather gifted they are. To pay much attention to the issue on transforming autistic children into creative and contributing geniuses instead of neglecting them, to build an autism friendly Bangladesh, the government has taken many revolutionary programs, which are regarded as milestones for this segment. Parents of autistic children, civil society members, non-state actors, NGOs, media, and obviously the mass will have to come forward to make the government’s initiatives sustainable and a success.
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication, and by restricted and repetitive behaviors. Autism affects information processing in the brain by alerting how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize. Experts say those children cannot pick up self-care tasks – dressing, self-feeding, using toilet and others by watching and imitating. They do not make eye-to-eye contact and have single-track thought process, but they have hidden talents like in paintings, music and so on.
Autism in Bangladesh is not only a medical issue; it is a human rights issue. It is estimated by the Ministry of Social Welfare that the total number of persons with ASDs (Autism Spectrum Diseases), could be as high as 1.4 million.
Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the Constitution mandated equality, nondiscrimination and creation of equitable measures for all those who are underprivileged. Therefore, all programs and services for autism and other disabilities are currently under its jurisdiction. Besides, government is fully aware of the prevalence of autism and it is one of the first countries to become party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.
In 1999, Government founded the National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Person (NFDDP) for mainstreaming the disabled persons with adequate support. Since its inception, the NFDDP funds have been allocated to provide loans, grants and other services free of cost to persons with disabilities.
In 2001 an act has been enacted titled The Disability Welfare Act-2001. The Ministry of Social Welfare introduced Disability Related Coordinated Special Education Regulation, 2009 that included learning procedures of autistic children.
A One Stop Mobile Service program has also been introduced in order to reach families that live in villages that lack accessibility to medical services. In April, 2010, two hostels were opened in Dhaka in order to help families’ access of medical services. The Autism Resource Center was also established in that year at Mirpur in Dhaka to provide free therapeutic services.
Moreover, the guardians of autistic children are receiving training on a regular basis. At present 55 special needs schools are run by the NFDDP through two separate NGO’s. Seven of these schools are based on an inclusion model. In June of 2010, the Center for Neurodevelopment and Autism in Children (CNAC) was inaugurated in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
It was the first government initiative that linked to a medical university. It is aimed to provide training to all medical professionals, comprehensive management of services and research on autism and other neurodevelopment disorders.
National Advisory Committee on Autism, Awareness/Advocacy Task Force, Education Task Force, Resource Task Force, and Services Task Force are the apex body working on autism in Bangladesh.
In 2011, the government has conducted a nationwide census where, for the first time, information on disable persons including autism was collected. The Ministry of Social Welfare has started a Disability Detection Survey program to ascertain the total number of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh which is being conducted on a pilot basis in seven districts at a national level in the 2012-13 fiscal year.
This survey includes autism as a separate disability. Considering the importance of autism, the Bangladesh government declared 2012 as the "Year of Autism". Country celebrates the 2nd April with outsiders ‘the World Autism Awareness Day’.
Government togetherly with Autism Speaks and the World Health Organization has launched the Global Autism Public Health Initiative (GAPH) in Bangladesh.
The mission of the GAPH is to develop and implement feasible, effective, sustainable programs and solutions that are applicable to the Bangladeshis. The development of GAPH is guided by the National Advisory Committee on Autism. The GAPH organized first international conference on autism in Dhaka in July 2011 where 370 participants from home and abroad took part in the conference.
The global leaders called upon the respective governments, especially the Ministries of Health, Education and Social Affairs, to strengthen their mental health services and prepare them to attend to the needs of people with developmental disorders and autism.
The government formed an Inter- Ministerial Task Force on Autism with representatives of 8 Ministries to devise a Strategic and Convergent Action Plan on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAPAND) in Bangladesh. GAPH prepared it to address the multiple determinants which protect and promote equality, quality, access, sustainability and affordability to individuals with autism and their families. This action plan provides the life cycle needs of persons with this disorder.
Meanwhile, government has enacted two notable laws for the safeguard of the autistic person titled on National Trust Act for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities 2013 and Disabled Persons Right and Security Act 2013. Besides upgrading the National Foundation for Disabled to a Directorate is in under process.
Research suggests that if we can identify these children at a very early age, and provide them with intense evidence-based interventions, they are likely to have better developmental outcomes. Adequate screening for neurodevelopment disorders, culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions, scientific academic programs in inclusive settings, job training and sheltered accommodation for young adults are urgent.
Effective programs that provide culturally sensitive and economically feasible solutions can bring hope for children with autism and other challenged persons. As to continue a research for identify the total number of autistic, proper medi-care initiatives include them in a problem solving process that needs much expertise and funding. It is also important to customize the programmes based on the culture, social expectations, financial and professional resources, and existing infrastructure within Bangladesh.
It is very praiseworthy that government has started to allocate special budget for the betterment of neurodevelopment disorder. In addition to this allocation, the well-off people will have to come up with generous mind to contribute to autism sector.
Bangladesh has taken pioneering steps to overcome barriers to services for individuals with autism. No other country in the South East Asian Region has committed itself quite so strategically to develop the systems which address the needs of persons with autism and the difficult situation faced by their families.
In this regard Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her belief that the movement will go forward in achieving its noble goal of meaningfully assisting autistic children enabling them to contribute significantly as partners towards building the future world of hope and glory. The government departments, NPOs, tertiary institutions, parent bodies and professionals, civil society and media should play a proactive role to make Bangladesh autism friendly and we can logically look forward to that.
bbarta/MHossain
