JOIN USThe Com DEALL Trust and its Parents’ Association recently hosted a fun-fete carnival for children, families and friends of autism to mark the ‘World Autism Awareness Day.’
It was a joy to watch these children having their kind of fun and parents joining them. The parents, more than children, were grateful that such an event was put together for autistic children. The event not only gave the children an opportunity to have fun but also provided a forum for the parents to meet and exchange their views on autism and spread awareness about the disability. There were game stalls and food stalls serving all kinds of delicious food apart from a lucky draw and fashion show. As many as 200 children, who attended the fete, were seen participating in almost all the events.
Prathibha Karanth, founder, director and managing trustee who works for autistic children to bring them into mainstream education and one of the organisers of the fete, observed, “It is only through events like this we are able to connect with the parents of children with autism and help them gain confidence.”
While some parents, who brought their children along weren’t too comfortable sharing their views, others were willing to talk about the issue and spread awareness about it. Sujatha Majumdar, an HR professional, was thrilled to see her son enjoy himself. “My son visited a few stalls. He also went on stage and participated in a few events which helped him overcome his stage fear,” explained Sujatha.
She said the best part of the fete was that he won a lucky draw. “My son walked home with a gift which he was really happy about and he also walked the ramp for the fashion show. Overall, it was a good experience,” she added.
Vineet Nair, an IT professional, has a four-year-old son and he said, “Events like this, especially organised for autistic children, provide a perfect platform for parents to interact and share with each other their experiences.” He added, “In a larger context, the event also helps parents gain a sense of confidence and acceptance.”