DILI, 02 april 2022 (TATOLI) – Providing special support for the children living with autism spectrum disorder, particularly the therapies needs patience, said Makrina Lewo, who takes care of kids with autism at Asosiasi Lembaga Misionaris Awam (ALMA).
“We need to have patience when providing special care for these children. Therapies are important to handle children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism,” Lewo told TATOLI, at ALMA, in Dili, on wednesday.
She said most children with autism have hyperactivity together with attention deficit.
“In individuals with autism, it is possible that this can last for a long time. This makes controlling the situation very difficult. It’s actually very difficult to handle them in classrooms, but we need to calm them down to start the therapies. So, understanding the condition of each and every child is important for calming them down,” she said.
Social interactions can be baffling for people that are autistic. They may become easily overwhelmed or frustrated when they try to develop and sustain friendships, Lewo stressed.
Therapies for children with autism require classification and diagnosis: “In addition, lack of resources especially the spaces and teachers makes it difficult for us to provide special care for these children. You know every autistic child needs a teacher when it comes to learning,” Lewo explained.
To celebrate World Autism Awareness Day, Lewo called on parents across the country to care for their kids who are living with autism, saying they need to accept their kids’ condition and help them to get proper support: “Children with autism spend most of their time with parents at home. So, parents need to help them with learning sign language.”
There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, and there’s currently no medication to treat it. But some medicines can help with related symptoms like depression, seizures, insomnia, and trouble focusing.
ALMA provided special therapies for children with autism based on experiences and knowledge they learned in Indonesia. Studies have shown that medication is most effective when it’s combined with behavioral therapies.
ALMA’s vision is to spread the words of God to the most needy children, while its mission is to provide special support, particularly to those children with autism and those who are left behind in Timor-Leste.
She said ALMA has been receiving financial support from the Ministry of Social, Solidarity, and Inclusion (MSSI), the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEJD), and Civil Societies.
Currently, 18 children with autism are receiving special care at the Asosiasi Lembaga Misionaris Awam.
Damaged roof makes it difficult for autistic children to learn when it rains
Lewo said due to the damaged roof of the classrooms makes it difficult for autistic children to learn when it rains.
“Children are asked to return home when it rains, as rainwater keeps pouring into the classrooms,” she said.
In 2021 ALMA had only one therapy room, but this year it added another room.
“This year, we have had helped 52 autistic children, of which eight are new. Last year we only had 42 children and it means that the number is increasing. Most of the autistic children at ALMA are aged between four and ten,” she said.
ALMA was one of the tuition-free-school in Dili with free snacks and free lunch for school children every day.
In Timor-Leste, ALMA was established in 2004, aiming to provide special support and care for children in need. ALMA has already established one of its branches in Manufahi municipality.
Autism
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication.
Genetic factors are estimated to contribute 40 to 80 percent of ASD risk. The risk from gene variants combined with environmental risk factors, such as parental age, birth complications, and others that have not been identified, determine an individual’s risk of developing this complex condition, according to the United States National Library of Medicine.
Many children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD or autism) display abnormal behaviors such as restlessness, poor attention span, and overactivity. They are often unable to concentrate or stay focused on tasks or activities.
On december 18th 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, declaring that April 2nd of each year will mark World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), noting the prevalence and high rate of Autism in Children in all regions of the world and the consequential developmental challenges.
Timor-Leste considers World Autism Awareness Day important to raise the awareness of the communities to respect and treat autistic people with dignity.
Journalist: Osória Marques
Editor: Cancio Ximenes/Rafy Belo
Translator: Filomeno Martins
