View of Autism in Pakistan

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Living in a highly superstitious South Asian culture, family, friends, neighbours and more began speculating that perhaps his odd behaviour was a result of supernatural forces (possession by the devil/ djinn). This speculation hurts his parents the most to this day.

The general culture in Pakistan is to believe in the power of prayer for all illnesses. Initially abiding by this norm, Ali’s parents finally gave up and decided to have him checked by a specialist. Ali’s behaviour was finally diagnosed and for his mother, it meant that whatever hope she had of her son’s behaviour being merely a “phase” had vanished. She became worried for Ali’s future. She was plagued by numerous uncertainties – what school he would go to? How would his own family treat him? How would she explain his different behaviour to others, especially as he aged? How will she herself cope with his disorder?

To her dismay, children in these schools were not being taught any substantial skills to survive in the outside world. They were merely at school so that they would have “a place” to be.

Ali’s parents felt that these schools would not help him grow as a person and would instead further stint his growth. Therefore, they began looking into the more expensive schools, schools that were specifically for autistic children. While these schools appeared to be the better option for Ali, they came with a hefty price. Settling on one of the better autism schools in Lahore, Ali’s mother explained that her family now barely makes ends meet.

In a closeted culture where the unknown is not only feared but also profusely rejected, it comes as no surprise that a disorder like autism is rarely met with people’s sensitivity. Ali’s family pointed out how it is much easier for them to tell people that Ali is hyperactive or delayed in his speech than to explain his disorder to people.

It makes you question if our society made treatments for mental disorders and disabilities a luxury only the rich can afford. Even though the majority of Pakistan falls within the lower middle-class, it is only the rich that can access adequate health care, leaving a good portion of the population unjustly neglected.

It is absurd to think that even in today’s day and age, we choose to explain unusual behaviour by tenuous theories like the works of the devil/ djinn. In the West, it is easy to see the flaw in this argument. The truth of the matter is that people continue to believe in these explanations and so valuable lives are wasted in the name of being “possessed”.

Faulty diagnoses prescribed by haqims (local physicians that abide by religion and herbal medicines in their practice) are still trusted far more than what specialist doctors have to say. Religion can play a powerful role in helping one triumph illness, however, a whole country cannot rely on religion alone to combat disorders that clearly have treatments and require immediate action from the government and society.

Why is Autism considered taboo or a byproduct of supernatural forces in Pakistan?

Can we please let India re-absorb it, now?

Obviously, their view on autism is not very enlightened.

Unfortunately, at least some people in the "Western World" think similarly.