Autistic children need acceptance, unconditional love and respect – Aarti Deo
PUNE: Vaidehi Dattaji Gaikwad Training Institute for Autism launched by Small Steps Morris Child Development Centre, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in collaboration with Sundarji’s Global Academia on Sunday conducted its second convocation ceremony for 80 trainers completing the Autism Management course. The one-year Post Graduate Diploma in Autism Management and seven months certified foundation course in Autism started in 2023 is accredited by Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).
The convocation ceremony was held at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on Sunday in the presence of Chief Guest Aarti Deo, Director of Learning and Development Academy at Mumbai, Guest of Honour Ajinkya Deo, the renowned actor along with Abhay Kudale, HoD Department of Health Sciences at Savitribai Phule Pune University, real estate developer Dattaji Gaikwad, Course Directors Dr. Suneel Godbole and Masrat Tawawala, Dr. Rajan Joshi, HoD Paediatrics Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre and Vaidehi Gaikwad.
Narrating his own experience, Actor Ajinkya Deo said that parents of autistic children should not lose hope. Although the situation is challenging, we can find a way out.
Aarti Deo, Director of the Learning and Development Academy at Mumbai, said that the first and most important step is to accept and give him or her unconditional love and respect. The challenge is to connect with the child, especially since our approach is to prevent the child from doing different things. We need to reconnect with the autistic child through words pictures or other means. The child is intelligent but the intelligence is locked. Give the child a little space. Create the right environment for it to perceive choices, and motivate and the child will come along, even if the path is not easy.
Stressing that parents should not be apologetic about their child, nor be guilty, they need to create an ecosystem around where children can also be looked at and cared for by others. We need to trust them. While taking care of the child, mothers should not neglect their own mental and physical health, she said.
Abhay Kudale, HoD Department of Health Sciences at Savitribai Phule Pune University said that the course is now reaching beyond Pune to the rural parts of Maharashtra. Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre should apply for a university-affiliated PhD research centre which will pave the way for more research and training programs.
Dr. Rajan Joshi, HoD Paediatrics, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre said that at a time when the number of children with autism is growing, there is a need for training centers and this is what our center has been pursuing.
Consultant Paediatrician and course director Dr. Suneel Godbole said that Autism is a growing problem amongst children worldwide. This neurological disorder affects the behavior of an individual and the ability to communicate or interact socially. While there is no cure for this there are medicines and therapies to reduce the severity. We need trained manpower to understand and handle children with autism. The role of parents is also crucial. Recognizing the growing number and need for trained manpower we started these courses in 2023. Any graduate, parent, educator, or caregiver can apply for this course. The course includes 30 expert faculties and hands-on training and on completion of this course, the certified professionals can work as resource room custodians in inclusive schools, shadow teachers for autistic children, or early interventionists.
The trained professionals not only help manage autistic children with a positive attitude but also can help spread awareness about Autism, said Dr Godbole.
