- Need to reflect and act
Thursday was World Autism Awareness Day, and while the world struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic, this was an opportunity to remind ourselves that those medical conditions which pre-existed before the pandemic, have not gone away. It also served as a reminder that society is less tolerant not just of those who are differently abled because of autism, but generally of all those who are differently abled because of one difference or the other. One of the problems that our society suffers from is that there is too much stigmatization of the differently abled. That has led to this being seen as a moral problem, and one result has been that not enough resources are devoted to special education, and not enough differentiation between various kinds of disability is created.
Physical disabilities, where there are no other mental disabilities, are not catered for. This should be all the more reason why the anti-polio campaign should have been prosecuted more vigorously, as parents feared the prospect of their children not receiving proper facilities anywhere, all their lives. However, vaccinators still need police escorts, and the cavalier neglect of the anti-polio campaign by the present government seems to have been overcome by the new crisis. When ordinary schools and colleges are shut down, it seems something of a needless flourish to think about the adequacy of special education facilities.
However, the theme of this year’s Awareness Day is Transition to Adulthood, which actually fits in with this pandemic. After all, when it is over, all societies will need everyone, and that will include the autistic. They may not fit the norm, but they can pull their weight in society; provided that they are met with acceptance and given the education they deserve. For this to be achieved it is first necessary to spread awareness and then pass meaningful legislation to create a more inclusive and accepting environment for the differently abled.
