Bringing hope to families with autistic children, 11 countries
from the WHO Southeast Asian Region, at a recent meeting,
adopted a resolution on the distinct brain damage disorder that
produces a range of behavioural abnormalities. The countries
resolved to strengthen national capacities and help mobilise
resources in Southeast Asia to address this issue. Autism is a
severely-incapacitating developmental disability that happens in
the first three years of life, but can be better dealt with, if
detected early. Statistics show that one in every 150 births is
autistic. India has more than one crore autistic children, but
treatment and rehabilitation facilities are virtually non-
existent. The resolution impressed upon the member states to
give appropriate recognition to autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
and developmental disabilities in policies and programmes
related to early childhood development, and asked them to
develop and implement policies and plans — including public
awareness, stigma removal campaigns, su