Autistic Pride Day is a significant event celebrated worldwide on June 18 each year. This day is dedicated to promoting awareness, understanding, and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autistic individuals, their families, and allies come together on this day to commemorate the strengths, talents, and unique perspectives of people on the autism spectrum. Autistic Pride Day was first observed in 2005 by Aspies for Freedom, which is a community that works for spreading awareness about autism. It aims to challenge the prevailing narrative surrounding autism, shifting the focus from deficits to abilities. It encourages society to embrace neurodiversity, recognising that autism is a natural variation of the human experience. This day serves as a platform to celebrate the achievements and contributions of autistic individuals in various fields and advocates for inclusivity, equality, and respect for autistic voices. Autistic Pride Day fosters a sense of pride, empowerment, and solidarity within the autistic community, fostering a more inclusive and accepting society for all. Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behaviour. It is characterised by a range of symptoms and challenges that can vary widely from person to person. It is typically diagnosed in early childhood, although some individuals may receive a diagnosis later in life. Speaking with indianexpress.com, Dr Himani Narula, developmental-behavioural Pediatrician, Director and Co-founder of Continua Kids said, "Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in awareness about autism in India. It has led to early diagnosis and timely intervention. There has been a gradual improvement in the availability of services such as special schools, therapy centres, and support organisations in various parts of the country. Awareness has led to the formation of advocacy groups that speak of rights and inclusion of individuals with autism." She further added that in the Indian context, there is limited research on the prevalence of autism but one of the largest studies conducted by INCLEN Trust states the prevalence to be about one per cent, with boys being four times more commonly affected than girls. She says autistic individuals are natural variations of the human brain, and accepting this neurodiversity and recognising their unique strengths is important to empower autistic individuals. Talking about the misconceptions, Dr Narula said that many parents either feel guilty or blame themselves for poor parenting when their child gets diagnosed with autism. On the contrary, it is one of the biggest misconceptions that autism occurs as a result of poor parenting. Another misconception that is very popular among parents is that individuals with autism are extraordinarily intelligent, but the fact is that only about 10 to 11% of autistic individuals have savant abilities, the rest may have either average or below average or delayed levels of intellectual functioning. Lastly, the most talked about misconception is that autism cannot be treated while the fact is that it is a neurodevelopmental disorder and these individuals are neurodiverse and not diseased. Dr Puja Kapoor, Paediatric Neurologist & Co-founder of Continua Kids added, "To have an inclusive environment, the prime factor is the thought process. It should be emphasised to other employees that individuals with autism are differently wired yet part of the same society. Others should communicate with them with clear and concise instructions and should be aware of the lack of social reciprocity of autistic individuals." 📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don't miss out on the latest updates!
