'Awareness, Support Needed Around Autism'
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday April 3, 2017 15:32
Joseph Thupe gave a speech following a march, which started off at the Attorney General Chambers’ in commemoration of World Autism Day yesterday, called for support from public leaders and members of the society. He said that raising a child with the rare condition is tough, as the children need special care. Thupe, a father to the 19-year-old autistic boy said that there is need to raise awareness about the condition.
“It is really tough raising a child with such a condition. We need support. We are always afraid to go out with these children to the shops and other places because when we get there, they want their presence felt. They are not afraid to do anything,” he said.
Thupe said that this could be traumatic to parents, especially if they are in an environment where people are not aware of the condition.
He said that in most cases, parents resort to locking up the kids and isolating them from society because they cannot handle the situation.
Chairperson of Autism Botswana, Monde Kote reiterated Thupe’s sentiments saying that it is expensive to raise a chid with autism.
Kote stated that autism is a growing health concern that the society needs to be aware of.
He said children living with the condition have peculiar eating habits and as such, it could be difficult for some parents to keep up with those needs. He said that the parents need support from their families and the community.
Kote said that the United Nations (UN) has declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day and the whole month of April to be Autism Awareness Month under the theme ‘Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination’.
He said this is meant to promote self-determination and independent living for people with the condition.
“We must let them be part of the society. Let them be free. We should not hide them, but let them do what they want,” he said.
Monde said that the condition itself is on the rise in Botswana as many children are diagnosed with it.
He encouraged participants to take part in the campaign throughout April by hoisting blue flags and wearing blue clothes as a symbol of solidarity with persons with autism and their families’ struggles to be recognised as equal citizens.
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder characterised by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviour. It is usually noticeable in the first two years of a child’s life.