Care centres for autistic children will be set up in revenue divisions of all districts, said Govindaraju, Director, department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens.

“We will open a centre in every district for detection and prevention of autism. The department is already operating helplines to create awareness about autism,” he said. Govindaraju was speaking at a programme to mark ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ at Jawaharlal Nehru Bal Bhavan here on Sunday.

Mayor G Padmavathi said people lack information about government schemes and facilities meant for the disabled. “We are trying to create awareness on these schemes at the ward level.” Dr Shoba Srinath, Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services at Nimhans, said autism was a developmental disorder and not a disease. “Autism is manageable with the early detection and appropriate care. It is different from mental retardation.”