There is nothing abnormal about autistic kids. Loving them unconditionally and accepting their condition is the only way: Dr Sonali Kataria
Loving and accepting them as they are can go a long way in making their lives comfortable and happy — this was the underlying message of an Autism Awareness event organised by Team Rush at Pathways School, in Noida, on Sunday.
Attended by parents of autistic children, the event saw Zumba experts perform to spread the message. Nearly 100 people, including doctors, participated in the event, shared their experiences about dealing with autistic children and dispelled myths surrounding them.
Nivedita Jain, who has a four-year-old autistic son said, "Till he was three, he did not utter a single word. It was only when he turned four that we discovered he is autistic. But he is just like any other normal child. The only difference is that such children have stunted social development skills, which makes it difficult for them to communicate what is going on in their minds." She added that she feels blessed to have him as her son because "God must have felt that I have the capability to bring up such a child."
Dr Sonali Kataria, who runs Sunrise Learning, a school dedicated to children with autism, felt they should not be viewed as "abnormal". "There is nothing abnormal about autistic kids. We need to get inside their minds and understand how they function. Loving them unconditionally and accepting their condition is the only way," Kataria said. She herself has an autistic child.
Meanwhile, Zumba instructor Ruchi Jain told DNA that they had been planning to organise such an awareness event for a long time, since they wanted people to be more empathetic and sympathetic towards autistic people. "April being the month of Autism, we decided to hold this event. It is very essential that we open ourselves towards the needs and sensitivities of such kids," she said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Autism")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}