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Special children stand by people for coronavirus


Published : 01 Apr 2020 10:59 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 05:43 PM

Persons with autism in Bangladesh have shown with the proper skilled training they can even stand by people.  Thursday is the World Autism Awareness Day that recognises and celebrates the rights of persons with autism. Due to coronavirus outbreak, there is no official programme in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world.

The Parents Forum for Differently Able-Vocational Training Center (PFDA-VTC) said on Wednesday that their children are working for the people in need during the crisis as the government is enforcing lockdown across Bangladesh closing almost everything. Autistic children are unable to pick up self-care tasks – dressing, self-feeding, toileting – by watching and imitating. They cannot make eye-to-eye contact, and have a single-track thought process.

The problem usually begins to show up in the first three years of life, affecting the normal development of social and communication skills. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a message said this year’s observance takes place in the midst of a public health crisis unlike any other in our lifetimes — a crisis that places persons with autism at disproportionate risk as a result of the coronavirus and its impact on society.

 “Persons with autism have the right to self-determination, independence and autonomy, as well as the right to education and employment on an equal basis with others,” he said. “But the breakdown of vital support systems and networks as a result of COVID-19 exacerbates the obstacles that persons with autism face in exercising these rights.”

 “We must ensure that a prolonged disruption caused by the emergency does not result in rollbacks of the rights that persons with autism and their representative organisations have worked so hard to advance. “Universal human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities, must not be infringed upon in the time of a pandemic,” he said.

 Founder and chairman of the Parents Forum Sajida Rahman Danny said their children packed foods for the poor and disable who are in crisis at this time. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all to stand by the daily wage-earners during this time of crisis. They distributed food for at least 500 people in Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Badda, and old Dhaka areas with 10 kg rice, 5kg daal, 5 kg potatos, 1 liter oil, ginger and spices in each packet.

 The UN chief said governments have a responsibility to ensure that their response includes persons with autism. “Persons with autism should never face discrimination when seeking medical care. “They must continue to have access to the support systems required to remain in their homes and communities through times of crisis, instead of facing the prospect of forced institutionalization.

 “We all have a role to play in ensuring that the needs of people who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 are met during this difficult period. Information about precautionary measures must be provided in accessible formats. We must also recognize that when schools employ online teaching, students with non-standard ways of learning may be at a disadvantage. The same applies to the workplace and working remotely.”

“Even in these unpredictable times, we must commit to consulting persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, and ensuring that our non-traditional ways of working, learning, and engaging with each other, as well as our global response to the coronavirus, are inclusive of and accessible to all people, including persons with autism.

 “The rights of persons with autism must be taken into account in the formulation of all responses to the COVID-19 virus. On World Autism Awareness Day, let us stand together, support each other and show solidarity with persons with autism,” he said.