INTRODUCTION - National Trust

has demonstrated quite clearly that autistic children benefit by attending school daily
only if the schools have highly structured, skill oriented training curriculum tailored
to the individual. Autistic children need purposeful, carefully planned and executed
teaching if they are to learn at the rate that is optimum for them. Unstructured
education and training does not help and it merely delays the benefit to be derived
from a structured education and training.
All that is required is to enable them to utilize to the fullest their intellectual potential
and capabilities. They can be made to contribute to society to the best of their abilities
and potential. To consider them as useless citizens of the society is extremely harmful
both to them and to ourselves. We must support them and give them a helping hand
to make them self-reliant and live with dignity. It is not easy but not impossible to
achieve. The qualifications needed on our part are dedication, devotion, sacrifice,
determination and commitment to create the facilities to impart them the necessary
training to stand on their feet & to adapt to the demands of life.
5. What is the difference between autism and mental retardation?
Most people with mental retardation show a relatively even rate of skill development
even if it is at a lower than the normal range. While individuals with autism typically
show uneven skill development with deficits in certain areas especially in their ability
to communicate and relate to others. They may have special skill in other areas.
It is necessary to distinguish between Autism and Mental retardation for proper
educational training and, effective diagnosis.
6. What can parents / teachers of children with autism do?
The most important thing parents and teachers dealing with persons with autism
can do is to educate themselves about the disorder and become an advocate for the
child and family. It is important to identify a professional who can help them through
the system initially. Parents and teachers must work together closely. It is also critical
to meet other parents of people with autism. Other parents & teachers can share
experiences on how to handle certain problems that may arise for the child and the
family. Finally, it is most important that you love your child. Treat him / her as
normally as possible. It is important to help you understand what is wrong with
your child; and it is important to help you get the services he/she needs. The more
normally a person with autism is treated the better he/she is going to do. While it is
important to recognize that while treating a child normally is the ideal, it may take
the child with autism longer to learn the things necessary to function independently
in society as an adult. However, with love, early intervention and education, people
with autism can and do lead happy productive lives and can be integrated into society.
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