This is in recognition of this increasingly common yet mysterious disorder that experts say affects one in 150 children. Clinicians in India too agree that they are seeing an alarming rise in the number of children with autism that cannot be simply attributed to an increased awareness or more inclusive diagnostic criteria. Action for Autism, a pioneer organisation that is doing commendable work for people with autism in the country puts the number of Indians with autism at 1.7 million.

Autism is a neurological and life long condition that affects social interaction and communication. It appears in childhood and people with autism indulge in repeated body movements and have abnormal response to sensory stimuli. Their functioning levels vary, while some children have retardation, a few are gifted (hence the term autism spectrum disorder-ASD). The cause is as yet unknown. Researchers are investigating genetic and environmental factors. Treatments include behaviour modification, diet and even medication in some cases. What has emerged with certainty is that early, individual and consistent training brings about improvement.

Even till two decades ago doctors and other related professionals in the country were not aware of the disorder or its implications, often diagnosing it as mental retardation. Treatment too therefore varied from prescribing medicines to control hyperactivity to advising admission to a residential school. Thanks to the work of some committed parents and clinicians, treatment programmes that involve parents are available now in most major cities. But sadly not in rural regions. Training materials for parents are also often not available in the local language.

Autism has been declared as a disability by the government of India. The National Trust Act, enacted in 1999, has strengthened the hands of those working with the disorder. While scientists are definitely not on the verge of finding a cure for all those with ASD, treatment methods are increasingly getting fine tuned. Autistic savants like Temple Grandin whose book Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships won the foreword book of the year award in 2006, offer insights into autism that no research can.

Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay has written not only on his autism but brought out a collection of poems too. While these are arguably rare achievements, every person with autism can definitely show improvement with consistent and right treatment.

It was only recently that a person with autism was barred from flying by an ignorant airport staff in Bangalore. With April 2 being declared Autism Awareness Day, may we hope that incidents such as these don’t recur?