It's time to join hands, lend support to the autistic

Amidst the ongoing commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) on April 2, 2015, Centre for Child and Adolescent Well Being (CCAW), New Delhi, is geared up to lead several awareness-raising actions for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the city.

For one there is going to be ‘carnival’ to spread awareness, educate, lend support and be one with families of autistic persons/children. The event will be held on April 5, 3:30 - 7 pm at Kailaso Farms, Vasant Kunj.

Speaking about the ‘condition’ (autism), Dr Deepak Gupta, Child and Adolescent psychiatrist and founder of Centre for Child and Adolescent Well (CCAW) says, “Every child with ASD is unique in his or her own way, an attitude that our society has to understand, acknowledge and appreciate.”

In developing nations like India, it is difficult to even find medical and other tests for diagnosis, let alone having accessible information on the problem. In lack of basic information, where even recognising ASD gets challenging, there is a prime need for raising awareness of ASD among the people.

Dr Gupta who has been in the profession for more than 17 years, mentions that out of all patients he sees, the “ASD cases have witnessed a sharp rise in recent times. Due to this reason, there must be enough awareness campaigns educating people about ASD, its early recognition and ways to deal with it.”

“ASD is often treated with extreme social disapproval. It gets difficult for us to try and make the other person understand the condition of our child,” says a parent of child undergoing treatment for ASD.

In a bid to spread awareness and usher a new wave of vibrancy in how autism is understood, Centre of Child and Adolescent Well Being (CCAW) is presenting the third annual Autism Carnival: Celebrate Autism.

The aim is to inculcate new perspectives, which are far removed from medical jargon or formal medical conferences and are more understandable to general public, says Dr Gupta.

Paediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, students and researchers in the field of autism will be joining hands to change the way autism is understood in this country. The Autism Carnival will open an expert panel for a live discussion with visitors.

The second series of ‘Autism and Beyond’, a unique parent information book will also be launched on the occasion. The artistic and creative side of children affected by ASD will be on display through mesmerising paintings and artwork made by them.

The event will be full of fun, frolic and diverse educational activities. Some of which include special talent shows, art and craft, games, and much more. Stalls offering information on treatments like special education, speech and language therapies along with occupational therapy and significant developments in the field of ASD, will also be set up for the benefit of visitors.

‘Celebrate Autism’ promises not only a moment of excitement for children, but for parents and general public as well.

The cause get a further boost by eminent names from the fashion arena, Shantanu and Nikhil who will join the festivities for inauguration and prize distribution ceremony of a special talent show for kids under ASD.