Thiruvananthapuram, India – A support group designed to provide a platform through which the parents of children with autism can communicate and raise awareness has been formed by the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH).
With autism rates rising dramatically throughout the globe, many organizations are now recognizing the importance of creating services that provide support for both individuals and families. As a result, NISH has developed a group that not only hosts traditional meetings but offers workshops that serve as a valuable resource as well.
A recent workshop session involved a discussion regarding the manner in which attendees address their children’s’ social, communication and behavioural difficulties. Additionally, parents exchanged tips and ideas regarding the methods they use to help support and advocate on behalf of their children. However workshop organizers also sought to highlight the positive aspects of the disorder and strongly encouraged those in attendance to embrace their children’s’ differences.
As Dr. Suja Matthews, chief of the Department of Autism and Related Disorders stated at the session:
“You are not alone. Autism is not a disease, it is just a condition that makes your child different from the others. The purpose of this workshop is to enable you to accept the beauty of the difference.”
The original article in The New Indian Express can be read here