KUANTAN: Many autistic children are unable to show their true potential because their parents and teachers lack the knowledge and awareness in dealing with the condition, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said yesterday.
The wife of the prime minister said the community's indifference towards autistic children made them feel isolated.
"They can live a normal life if they are given special education.
"Obviously, the society has the perception that these children cannot communicate or mingle, while their parents are busy blaming each other as a result of the pressure they receive," she said when opening a national-level course for supervisors of community-based rehabilitation centres here yesterday.
Rosmah advised parents and teachers to have faith and encourage autistic children so that they can excel in whatever fields that they show interest in.
Through the Semai Bakti programme, she said, more opportunities were being given to such children, especially in terms of education and skill development.
Semai Bakti is a special programme to help the disabled, which is jointly organised by the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti), associations for the wives of state elected representatives and the private sector.
Rosmah, who is Bakti president, also urged parents and the public to support all Semai Bakti initiatives to enable autistic children to grow up, secure jobs and lead a normal family life.
"I believe that the contributions by non-governmental organisations have helped ease the burden shouldered by the government, community and parents.
"Although the relevant agencies have done their best to help the disabled, Bakti feels it should join in the efforts of the government, other NGOs and the private sector."
Based on statistics, Rosmah said one in 600 children in Malaysia was autistic, while last year's record showed there were 47,000 autistic people nationwide.
p/s: 600 in Malaysia? 47,000 Nationwide?? (I thought wrong statistic or wrong typing) I know............
Read more: 'Encourage autistic children to excel' http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/12aitis/Article#ixzz1G3Be8IHl
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