UNDERSTANDING AUTISM: RADICA MAHASE, Ph.D,

          Marc is 14 years old. His parents have been unable to find a school which caters to his special needs, so he is not attending school. Although he understands most of what is said to him, he is non-verbal and communicates with his parents through gestures. Once in a while, he might use words and very infrequently he replies in a sentence. Someone has to help him brush his teeth, shower, and change his clothes. He requires constant supervision as he has no sense of danger and might wander off. He loves to listen to music and he often turns the volume up high. Aditya is 15 years old and he attends a private primary school. He communicates verbally and he completes daily tasks such as taking a shower, dressing, and eating without any help from anyone. He has sensitive hearing and sometimes he wears noise-cancelling headphones in school or in public places. Both Marc and Aditya were diagnosed with Autism when they were about 4 or 5 years old.

          Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by delays in speech development, issues with social interaction and various repetitive behaviors. It is a spectrum which means that no two individuals diagnosed with Autism display the same traits. For example, Marc does not communicate verbally while Aditya speaks as well as other kids his age. Marc has difficulties in social situations and does not interact with other kids, whereas Aditya socializes with his peers at school. Thus, each individual with Autism has to be treated as a separate person, catering to their own specific needs. When an individual is diagnosed, the diagnosis places the child on a spectrum from low to high functioning, depending on the level of development of the individual. In Trinidad and Tobago, those children who have been diagnosed with high functioning autism have better opportunities for integration in society and some attend public schools and socialize with their peers. However, those with low functioning Autism are the ones who are usually kept out of the public gaze and are unable to survive on a daily basis without constant care. 

          It is rather tricky to explain a disability that is not always visible. We live in a country where it is taken for granted that a disability is physical and if we cannot see a physical problem then we believe that the individual is “normal”.  Autism does not have a particular look; it cannot be recognized by simply looking at a person. Many parents and caregivers are often told that their children look “normal”.   In Trinidad and Tobago, this can prove to be very difficult for those with Autism. Often, when parents and caregivers take their child out in public and the child is overwhelmed or has a meltdown, people are very quick to say “give him a good slap” or “she needs some licks,” because they believe that the child is “just hardened” and should be disciplined.

          This is not correct, however.  Many individuals with Autism are simply overwhelmed in normal, everyday situations and they respond to their environment in a different way. Marc, for example, loves music so when he becomes agitated in a particular situation, his parents put on his favourite CD and it calms him down. Aditya, on the other hand, becomes overwhelmed in noisy places and he only feels good again when he is in a quiet spot. While both Marc and Aditya look “normal”, it is their sensitivity and particular traits which define them, and often these cannot be recognized by anyone who do not know them personally.

 

          There is no cure for Autism, but various types of therapies can help a person with Autism to live more comfortably and/or independently. The most common therapies are speech, occupational, development, and physical therapy. Also, individuals diagnosed with Autism can learn just about anything if they are taught in a manner which addresses their specific level of development. As Aditya is high functioning, he does academic work; Marc on the other hand, is still at the development level of a 3 years old child and he has to be taught at that level. Through stimulating activities and constant repetition, Marc learned to do simple things like playing with a ball and coloring in his book. Each of these boys face challenges on a daily basis, but with available and accessible opportunities, they will be able to live with Autism in Trinidad and Tobago.

---------

RADICA MAHASE, PH.D. IS THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF SUPPORT AUTISM T&T, A FACULTY MEMBER AT THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED ARTS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LOCATED IN PORT OF SPAIN IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, AND A CONTRIBUTING EDITOR TO IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®. "UNDERSTANDING AUTISM" WAS INITIALLY PUBLISHED IN THE TRINIDAD NEWSDAY ON 24 JANUARY 2018; REPRINTED BY IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOOD® WITH AUTHOR’S PERMISSION.