AUTISTIC CHILDREN: They are sometimes locked up in a room by parents and left to die
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According to the Coordinator, Autism Associates, Mr. Okey Martins, “Many children in Nigeria with autism are either not diagnosed or misdiagnosed. They either end up being hidden at home or clubbed with the deaf, dumb or mentally ret*d children. In rural areas where there are no psychiatric hospitals, majority end up on the streets as insane fellows.” Martins lamented that, today, there are no schools for children with ASD. Although there had been attempts by parents of autistic children to set up schools to cater for children with autistic like challenges, lack of fund, and limited skills hindered the vision. “What is in the country today is a centre that caters for persons with physical, mental and developmental disabilities,” he stated. For Martins, exorcism is the common treatment and mothers are blamed for their children’s autism. There is a lot of stigma and discrimination against disabled persons. There is no recognition of autism as a disability and nothing; absolutely nothing is available to meet the needs of those with the condition. Continuing, he said: “Even the Federal Ministry of Education does not categorise autism as a distinct disability despite the fact that the condition is currently reputed as 3rd most common childhood disorders and fastest growing developmental disability. Many of the so called “mad” persons on Nigerian streets are recoverable persons with autism who were neither diagnosed nor treated. Yet they could have been treated. They could have been among our leaders today.”
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
It is Autism Acceptance Month
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
26 Feb 2017, 2:56 am
