If autistic children get good care and necessary assistance and come close to good things, they can contribute to society and national development.
The opinion came in a discussion held today at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner here in observance of the 16th World Autism Awareness Day-2023 with the theme of 'Transformation: Toward a Neuro-Inclusive World for All.'
The district administration and Department of Social Services (DSS) in association with different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) chalked out programs to observe the day.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Chitralekha Nazneen attended the discussion as the chief guest with Deputy Director of the DSS, Rangpur Md. Abdul Matin in the chair.
Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr. Md., Jahangir Kabir and Additional Divisional Director of the DSS Md. Mossarraf Hossain spoke as special guests.
Abdul Matin discussed the present situation on autism in the country and various pragmatic steps taken by the present government to ensure development and welfare of autistic children and autism spectrum disorder population to turn them into able citizens.
The speakers said access to technology is crucial for improving lives of the people living with any form of disability like autism, ensuring their basic human rights and eliminating obstructions they face in living as an integral part of the mainstream society.
They stressed on promoting education, equity and inclusion of the autistic population with the help of modern technologies like internet and digital communities to enable them living a meaningful life with complete social and political participation.
Assistive technologies can help persons with disabilities to participate in various sectors of social life and exercise their rights as their participation is a must for attaining the United Nations 2030 Agenda for SDGs, they mentioned.
The chief guest said the autistic and neuro-developmentally disabled populations are integral parts of the society.
"Children with autism excel in a particular subject with many such examples. Instead of neglecting autistic children, we should work on their mental development, and parents of the family should take additional responsibility," she said.
She said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very much sincere in the development of autistic children and the state is working for their development.
"For this reason, we all need to come forward along with the state," she added.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha