JARANWALA:
In the midst of provincial legislation aimed at providing free education and therapy services to children with autism, especially those of environments with economic problems, a center has been put into operation at the Red Crescent hospital for the purpose.
The development follows the inauguration of the First School of Autism of the Public Sector of the country in Lahore by the main minister. The center established in Faisalabad last year is now expanding its range of services.
The Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Randhawa, said the center is offering support, resources and therapy for people with autism.
He highlighted the lack of attention paid to this segment of society in the past and praised the efforts made by the district administration not only to strengthen the center but also to replicate similar facilities in other districts of the division.
Dr. Randhawa referred to the estimates of the Pakistan Autism Society (PAS) that 350,000 children in the country are affected by autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
He said that the Children’s Development Center is dedicated to support children with various neurodevelopment conditions such as ASD, Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy (CP) and development delays.
According to Dr. Randhawa, the center provides therapy sessions in a support environment, focusing on behavioral improvements and skills development to promote independence among children. He said the team includes trained professionals in therapy and advice, who design therapy plans adapted to the condition of each child.
He revealed that the center has registered more than 200 children, with the number constantly increasing. He said that more than 100 children have shown significant progress and now only attend follow -up sessions instead of daily therapy. He stressed that the results suggest that therapy is producing measurable improvements in communication, social behavior, physical coordination and other daily skills. Families, he added, report a growing sense of hope when they witness the continuous progress of their children.
The attached commissioner Nadeen Nasir said during a visit to the installation that the objective behind establishing the Autism Center is to support children with developmental disorders so that they can reach their maximum potential. He added that the administration plans to expand the scope of services, introduce more therapy options and extend the scope to more children in the region.
The district administration is also preparing awareness campaigns and training programs for parents, educators and caregivers to create a more inclusive environment. On the occasion an interactive session with the parents was held.
A mother, Farzana Ahmad, said her son was born five years ago and showed signs of disorders that confused the family. After learning about the center of a neighbor, he brought his son for registration.
