Struggling for autism welfare

Md Quamrul Islam :
It is a matter of great happiness that campaign for autism awareness is going on strongly at global and national level. Indeed, we felt so while attending an enthralling cultural program celebrating the 7th World Autism Awareness Day and 10th anniversary of Autism Welfare Foundation (AWF) on April 4 in the evening at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka. Over the last 14 years we progressed step by step, attained the present position, which our dear readers may recall who encouraged us all through for creating awareness for welfare of the autistic children in the country and to garner mental strength fight autism upbringing affectionate child adult keeping faith in Allah.
As usual cultural function was updated spread for 3 hours participated by male and female students of AWF, starting with recitation of Holy Quran, opening song, precise welcome speech by Chairperson Dr Rawnak Hafiz depicting10 years of success, launching 10th anniversary Magazine Kanan, and performing events by students with a speech in between by concerned special guests for welfare of the autistic children and adults. While my mind was absorbed in it and common concern of the parents as to what happen to their child adult in their absence, announcer invited me to stage to deliver a speech.
I went to the stage and spoke on mike as a maternal grand father of Fahim Hasan felt and experienced to date in the domain of autism unknown to me in 2000 in an emotionally choked voice naturally, which parents with their children and guardians in the Hall heard in solemn silence reciprocated. It was in 1997 he was born, when hospital doctor and nurse came out of the room told us a very beautiful boy, mother and child is happy. Our happiness knew no bound, I gave Azan as usual. Both his mother Dr Shamima Islam and father Dr Masud Hasan are physicians; both families were in gaiety observed other rituals. Alas it did not last long as mother in law of my daughter noticed he is not trying to speak, hyper activity and losing eye contact!
Immediately we went to different senior specialists’ doctors, as advised but no result. At this time we heard went to Dr Rawnak Hafiz, organised a Society for Welfare of Autistic Children (SWAC) taking affected parents. She checked him, suggested a normal school with special needs section before taking him in SWAC centre. School tried yielded no result, and them she took him in SWAC. As she left established AWF he remained in SWAC centre, now Beautiful Mind, Uttara, as these are nearer to our residences. But cordial relationship that was established with Dr Rawnak Hafiz pioneer in this field led us to work jointly as she felt media exposure of autism essentially needed, which responsibility I took up since inception; thankful to mainstream national media which carried my columns as well as on reporting side covered news, succeeding new generations will take over as called upon in my speech.
Over the preceding years whenever I went to drop and lift Fahim in the centre, I could read painful looks of parents and talked to them, as sorrows shared sorrows halved. They felt relieved sharing their sufferings, mostly working mothers do not get requisite support from husband his family as child rearing is felt the job of mother in our society, some mother in law find fault with mother for the baby! AWF magazine Kanan in every publication carries articles by mothers in distress and fight to survive. It is for our social activists including teachers at university levels in concerned departments to ponder over the subject undertake theoretical and practical measures to change the mindsets make social atmosphere in all spheres congenial to the autistic child adult, instead of shifting responsibility abstractly to the government only to escape.
Likewise it cannot be ignored as monthly rent of hired building is high, to meet required student teacher ratio 2:1 and other critical needs, parents need to defray expenses deemed costly, which wealthy persons, businessmen under their CSR programme may share to reduce the burden. Of course parents are to cooperate among them avoid Bangali ego clash to contribute mange united for development program in any organization and government national advisory committee to provide enabling environment. It may not be out of place to mention hard efforts of my daughter to bridge SWAC construction committee for residential setting of adult but yet to see the light of the day; facilitates activities of beautiful mind and in harmony with AWF.
Just look reminiscence at page 10 of Kanan feelings of a mother of an autistic boy, donated 5 katha land at Mirpur for school and permanent address, registered in favour of AWF on June 3, 2010. She passed away on September 23. We pray to Allah bless her surviving son and husband; and children of five demised fathers. How are they may be enquired by social welfare agencies for doing the needful. It brooks no further delay but express my long desire to donate 5 katha land for autistic purpose which was in my possession with all legal documents for 30 years along with seven other co-plaintiffs at Kalyanpur, dispossessed by land grabbers in 1996. Court case awaiting final verdict; one of our co-plaintiffs is Advocate Abdul Hakim now justice. When the land is recovered it will be handed over either in kind or cash agreed by my family and Dr Shamima Islam will do the needful as per advice of Dr Rawnak Hafiz. I pray to Allah for fulfillment of my desire.
We note with satisfaction Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s gracious presence and message on World Autism Awareness Day April 2 as declared by United Nations in 2008 and Chairperson of National Advisory Committee Saima Wazed Hossain deeply involved in national and international activities, we are confident good years are ahead of us alleviating the sufferings of parents and children, provide an enabling environment for proper growth of really voluntary organizations with dedicated core to the benefit of autistic children and adult and sort out any hindrance, as already surfaced. Parents and guardians lovingly accolade me autistic der nana (maternal grandpa of autistic), for which I gratefully seek mercy of Allah. n