Families of autistic children came together on the ocassion of Autism Awareness Day in the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
Happy faces were seen all across the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi where an event was organized on the occasion of Autism Awareness Day. Children suffering from autism and their parents gathered there to share their experiences.
"I don't know what will happen to my kid after I die. Who will invest the amount of time that I do, once I'm gone?" said Rita Sabharwal, parent of an autistic 30-year-old.
Autism is a neurological disorder which impairs one's ability to communicate. A lot of effort is put in by such children's mothers and fathers.
Achutanal Guha recalls how his mother reacted to the news of his diagnosis and how autism was perceived two decades ago, "Her first reaction was to try and keep me indoors. She wanted no one to find out."
Mr Guha has been actively involved with Action for Autism - an NGO which provides support and services to autistic people - for the last 16 years. "We have been working aggressively to create awareness about autism but even after all these years it feels like 95 per cent people in India remain ignorant," he said.
Battling for the rights of individuals with autism, are the mothers who are pushing for a life of dignity for their children. Shubhangi, another parent adds, "There is an absence of self - advocacy among autistic children and so parents act as advocates for them."
"Sometimes people call me brave and applaud me. But that is not something I have ever wanted. I have only wanted to be just another mom, with a child who acts differently," adds Ms Sabharwal.
Autistic children stand to benefit from schooling, jobs, welfare projects once the new Disability Act gets enacted into a law. But for now, it is a disability not recognized as one.