SHILLONG, March 31: In connection with World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on April 2 to acknowledge and promote awareness about Autism as a growing global health crisis, SAN-KER will commemorate this day by organising a bike rally to spread awareness for acceptance of individuals with autism in the society. The rally will start from Mawroh Community Hall and after going around the city will culminate at SAN-KER.
The rally will be followed by a special programme that will be held at SAN-KER, where experts in the field of Autism and caregivers will deliberate over this year’s theme — ‘Inclusive education in the context of Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 (SDG 4), the promise and reality’.
The chief guest for this programme will be the Chairperson of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The speakers include Dr K Rapthap, Developmental Paediatrician, I Shadap, Clinical Psychologist, and S Smale, caregiver of persons with Autism, while the programme will be chaired by Dr E Mukhim, Consultant Psychiatrist, SAN-KER.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others. It causes differences from accepted typical development in three main areas — Social Understanding, Communication and Imagination.
Autism affects both men and women of all races in all countries and has a huge impact on children as this phase in their life is to further develop educationally and emotionally.
The incidence of Autism in India is about 0.23 per cent, or 23 of every 10,000 children, far less than the 1.47 per cent in the United States.
Over the past decade, major progress has been made towards increasing access to education generally, as well as for persons with autism specifically.
However, in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, the temporary closure of schools affected more than 90 per cent of students worldwide. The disruption in learning caused by the pandemic has reversed years of progress and has exacerbated inequalities in education.
Many students with autism have been hard hit and studies show that they have been disproportionately affected by disruptions to routines, as well as services and supports that they rely on.
SDG 4, adopted worldwide recognises that persons with disabilities have the right to inclusive, quality education on an equal basis with others and that reasonable accommodation of the individual’s requirements should be provided.
The specific targets for SDG 4 refer to the need to ensure “equal access to all levels of education and vocational training” for persons with disabilities and building and upgrading education facilities that are disability sensitive and that provide “inclusive and effective learning environments for all.”