Just shared a thought of a Parent of an Autistic Child... Talking openly about autism is something that many parents do not like. Most of them feel ashamed or they see it as something that should not be talked about publicly. As a parent of an autistic child, I have gone through a lot. Only parents like us could fathom the physical and emotional challenges of raining an autistic child. Even though, the government is providing funding for running Special Educational Needs (SEN) units in a handful of primary schools in Male and the atolls, the funds are still insufficient to effectively run the units or ensure entry to all applicants. With no means of treatment available in the country, many parents are forced move to neighboring countries, like India, in pursuit of their comprehensive treatments. But many of us are not financially able to move abroad and have no option but to seek whatever available treatment from private clinics, which are often accused of being more concerned about earning money than providing quality services. There are only around seven SEN units or classes across the country and they concentrate on children’s academic growth rather than the treatment of the disorder. As per the DISABILITY ACT, treatment like therapies should only be provided by a health facility. 11 years have passed since the establishment of the first SEN classes in the Maldives, but it’s really sad to say that even the oldest SEN class still does not have an occupational therapy centre, which is a vital for autistic children. It is also saddening to see that Imaadhudheen School has made available similar services for other students. SEN Classes in the atolls are either ill-equipped or under-strength. Talking on about the “Speech Therapy”, which of high importance to autistic kids, the biggest tertiary referral hospital, IGMH does not have the adequate resources to provide long-term speech therapies. Since there is only one in-house therapist at IGMH to cater for all, autistic kids have to wait for months, sometimes more than “THREE MONTHS” to get an appointment. For us, even losing “ONE DAY” is a “HUGE LOSS” for our kids. That leaves us with no other choice but to turn to private clinics. It’s highly expensive and it is not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme ‘Asandha’. My advice to all parents with autistic children is don’t simply keep silent or hide your kid at home, just come out and raise your voice, and fight for your rights. Make everyone know the challenges that you face in your daily lives. Let’s make sure that the authorities are fulfilling their responsibilities. In-sha Allah, one day we will be able to achieve a permanent solution, fully-fledged treatment and services for autistic children in the Maldives. I hope parents will realize the importance of going public about the grievances of raising autistic children rather than remaining silent. May Allah bless all children with special needs, parents and families. Last but not the least, I would like to sincerely thank “Dharinnatakai_Aharumen” team for its efforts to bring attention to the plight of autistic children and their families and hope our collective efforts will prevail in the near future.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 16:42:41 +0000
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