Autism Awareness

We often tend to assume things about people without fully understanding them. We crack jokes, call out names and bully people who are slightly different from us. Even though it is mostly done unintentionally, the impact it has on the person is very grave. By the time we mature, start understanding the stark realities of life and the existence of different kinds of people across the spectrum, it becomes too late. The damage is already done.

It is important to make young people- especially children to understand certain things. It is important to make them realise that not everyone lie on the same page. Different people have different frequencies of understanding and response. You just can't classify people into two broad types based on certain observations and behavioral patterns. This is outright WRONG.

Many a times, in the division of people into intelligent and dull-heads, we tend to leave out the exceptional kind- the disabled. They (the people with both mental and physical disabilities) are mostly labelled as 'dimwits' and are mocked. Generally people with sound mental health and a few physical complications are lesser ridiculed, but people with mental issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism etc. are derided the most. Today's blog will majorly focus on autistic people, the trials and tribulations they face in their lifetime and the societal perception about them.

Autism is a neurological disorder which affects the brain, impairs communication skills, obstructs the developmental process and leads to repetitive behaviour. People affected with autism don't like to mingle with others; they like to spend time alone. Silence is solace and sounds are a menace for them. They have a very peculiar conduct, they go ballistic many times and they don't know to control their cascading emotions. 

 Due to such issues, many find it very difficult to take care of autistic people. I agree it is hard to attend to such people (and even harder if it is a teenager who hit puberty) but we must always look at the brighter side. Such children have very few demands. Once you get them adapted to a routine, they will neither forget it nor will falter anywhere. They are very sharp in certain aspects- we must catch that point and help them to improve in that field. Once we bring them into our grip, we can easily help them to maneuver their way. We can't fine tune their brain back to normalcy, but we can surely help them to develop in certain areas. 

The major problem for autistic people is to break a habit. They are very firm in their resolve. So once you get people with autism accustomed to long drives and outings frequently, it becomes very difficult for them to adjust when there is a lockdown imposed. They go into a confused state, there is utter chaos inside their head and they start having anxiety issues. 

 Mostly, autism isn't very fatal during young age. Due to this, many autistic kids tend to join normal schools. The reason why such people are cornered is because they "don't fit in the bracket" and normal standards of an ideal student. They don't make friends easily because they don't achieve proper mental growth required for that age.  Grown-up autistic people also face many issues because their tendencies and nuances are only understood by family members.

Autism can't be cured and even if it is (which happens in very rare cases) a few symptoms still remain. Such people's life may not change drastically through medicines, but surely can get better when they have an external support system. People with autism have shown gradual signs of improvement and change when they were treated with love and care . 

Lockdown has surely made families with autistic kids understand the child's mental temperament and helped them work in a better way towards catering their needs. They have of course faced their shares of lows, but somehow managed to bring a smile on their child's face. The taboo surrounding autism has kinda ended. The social stigma around it is broken. People are now openly speaking about how his/her child got affected due to the disorder. This is a major victory we have achieved but this is not enough.

If we have to understand a situation better, we need to know about it from the root. If we really want to bring a change, we must be the change. We must start educating youngsters and make them know the pain such people go through- the difficulties they have in adapting to the dynamic world. We must encourage them to take part in activities promoting autism awareness like the Light it Blue campaign. We ourselves must take initiative and donate to schools set up for such children. 

Always respect the rights of autistic people, treat them equally without any discrimination and stop pigeonholing them. The day we rise above our narrow walls of thinking and start considering autism- not as a disease- but as a form of neurodiversity is only when the war is truly won. 

Remember that autistic children are also called 'special children' not because they are disabled, but they are referred so because they are the true and pure children of the Supreme Soul with no vice and malice in their heart. They are always genuine and aren't double faced.

So on the occasion of Autistic Pride Day on 18th June 2021, let us take a pledge to accept idiosyncratic people with open arms. Let us hoist the rainbow infinity symbol flag and demonstrate that all of us are equal even though we differ in a certain manner. Let us ensure that this celebration of different and diverse identities mustn't be limited only to a single day or occasion. 

To all my autistic brothers and sisters- be proud of the way you are!! Don't try to fit into the expectations of the society. Create your own space and always standout!

Celebrate difference

Enlighten your conscience

Accept their existence

Act with benevolence

Create a cordial ambience......

          HAPPY AUTISTIC PRIDE DAY!!!!!

Let us light the lamp of acceptance to eradicate the darkness of abhorrence.....

                                             - Anusha Sridhar