Jaranwala:
In the midst of provincial legislation aimed at providing free education and therapy services to autistic children, in particular those from economically difficult backgrounds, a center of the Red Crescent Hospital was made entirely operational for this purpose.
The development follows the inauguration of the first school of autism from the country’s public sector in Lahore by the chief minister. The center created in Faisalabad last year now widens its range of services.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Randhawa, said the center offered support, resources and therapy to autistic people.
He underlined the lack of attention given to this segment of the company in the past and congratulated the efforts made by the District administration not only to strengthen the center but also to reproduce similar facilities in other districts of the division.
Dr. Randhawa has referred to the estimates of Pakistan Autism Society (PAS) that 350,000 children in the country are affected by autism spectrum disorder (TSA).
He said that the children’s development center is dedicated to supporting children suffering from various neurodevelopmental conditions such as TSA, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Down syndrome, brain paralysis (CP) and development delays.
According to Dr. Randhawa, the center offers therapy sessions in a favorable setting, focusing on improving behavior and skills development to promote independence in children. He said that the team includes professionals trained in therapy and counseling, who design therapy plans adapted to the state of each child.
He revealed that the center had recorded more than 200 children, the number increasing regularly. He said more than 100 children have shown significant progress and now attend follow -up sessions instead of daily therapy. He stressed that the results suggest that therapy gives measurable improvements in communication, social behavior, physical coordination and other daily life skills. Families, he added, report a growing feeling of hope by seeing the continuous progress of their children.
Sub-commissioner Nadeen Nasir said during a visit to the establishment that the objective behind the creation of the autism center was to support children with developmental disorders so that they can reach their full potential. He added that the administration plans to extend the scope of services, to present more therapy options and to extend awareness of more children in the region.
The district administration also prepares awareness campaigns and training programs for parents, educators and caregivers to create a more inclusive environment. An interactive session with the parents took place on this occasion.
A mother, Farzana Ahmad, said her son was born five years ago and showed signs of troubles that confused the family. After learning the center of a neighbor, she brought her son for registration.
