00:00The first thing that was difficult for me was that I couldn't, that I had a problem
00:08with my speech. It was a delayed speech and I was not able to talk at a young age.
00:16Did you get teased at all at school?
00:19Teased, bullied, I guess so.
00:21Yeah, why? Because you were different?
00:25Mostly, I speak differently, act differently, I had strange mannerisms, tics, physical and
00:32verbal.
00:33One time, one kid beat me up on the bus one time for just sitting down on the next seat
00:41and I don't know why that is.
00:44There has been a global rise in the diagnosis of autism and Dubai has not escaped this epidemic.
00:50But what do we really know about autism?
00:52Autism is a range of difficulty and so we have children who perhaps can't communicate
00:58verbally at all and we have other youngsters who have very good vocabulary so they know
01:05the names of every star in the galaxy but they can't use that as functional language
01:11to communicate at an emotional level.
01:14So when we talk about communication deficits, typically a child with autism does not really
01:19want to interact with another person.
01:21They are quite happy being by themselves and they are often described as being in a world
01:26of their own.
01:27So they will ask questions and answer questions but they won't have a discussion about perhaps
01:34what you did today or you will say, oh, something's really upsetting me.
01:39They wouldn't say, what is that?
01:41There's a whole spectrum of behaviours that comes under this particular disorder and that's
01:47why it's referred to as a spectrum.
01:49It's a very difficult time for parents when they realise that their child has special
01:52needs.
01:53I still remember that day, it was in India, we went to, we took Calvin for the speech
01:59and hearing problem because we felt he was, he had some problem with the hearing.
02:05So we took him to the doctor, then he said there is nothing wrong with the ear, he's
02:08perfectly alright but he said go and see a special educator.
02:13So when we went there, they did the test, what is possible, what has to be done.
02:20So after the test they called me inside and said this is your son's case and I think that
02:25was the first time I cried very loudly, I mean I couldn't take it.
02:32It was a shock, you know, that time.
02:34He just told me he has autism directly, you know, directly.
02:39So autism and, you know, however I was in the medical field but I didn't know what's
02:45exactly autism.
02:46It was just like a word in a book I read a long time ago and I didn't realise what is
02:51autism.
02:52I took the word and I went home and surfed the internet and it was a very bad day.
02:58So it was a very, very difficult time for the whole family, not only me, we all were
03:03grieving for the child that we had and we lost.
03:09But imagine how much more difficult their life becomes when society's reaction to them
03:13and their loved ones is unwelcoming and unpleasant.
03:16It used to hurt much before when my son was small because when we are very good friends,
03:21college friends, when we are especially neighbours in the building, we'll find children playing
03:25and my son wants to go out and play with them, immediately they'll call the children back.
03:30But my son just makes some noise, they will make him stop playing other than, especially
03:35my daughter had a lot of problem because she lost friends because those parents will
03:40not allow their children to play with my daughter.
03:43When we ask them why, because your son has a problem.
03:46Even my classmates, some of them, they know that I have a special brother, they just kind
03:50of stay away from me, as if, you know, I'm also kind of different.
03:56It's really sad because till now, you know, people are dealing with those kids as if they
04:00are naughty kids.
04:02Well, Ahmed is not naughty, he is special.
04:05You know, Ahmed is doing these things out of, you know, he's not controlling these things.
04:11There are two people that really are so scared for my brother, I don't know really why.
04:17So, I'm like, and they're a bit mean to him, so I'm like, ignore, I'm not going to be their
04:26friends and, yeah.
04:28There is a lot of, still a lot of taboo with people with special needs.
04:35There's not enough awareness.
04:37Children just come and they stare at her like she's in the zoo or something.
04:43Most centres that care for children with autism are operating at full capacity and often with
04:48long waiting lists.
04:49But what happens to these children when they turn 18 and come out of the education system?
04:54So, this is the biggest issue we are facing, biggest worry for us.
04:59Every day we think what is going to happen because in August he turns 18.
05:02We have like, once the boys turn 18, the visa question comes, the visa, the air ticket.
05:09Sometimes the company provides, but again, after 18, the boys, all these things stop.
05:13The medical stops, the air ticket stops, all these things stop for them.
05:17There is no specialised centres, there is no rehabilitation centres for kids after 18,
05:21so where to go, you know?
05:22This is the question that everybody now is asking, the parents, the society, and even
05:28us, because after 18 we can't give them any services.
05:34And afterwards, it should be the country's responsibility.
05:38I don't know if it's something that the government should have responsibility for.
05:43I think the government should facilitate in any way, and they do.
05:47For example, the Dubai government has a programme for adults with special needs where they receive
05:56all kinds of perks, everything from RTA passes to what have you.
06:04So I think any way that the government can streamline it is fantastic.
06:09People with autism, especially those on the high end of the spectrum, are able to learn
06:13skills that can be applied in the workforce and are hoping to find their place in society.
06:18And I've completed grade 10, so I'm applying for grade 12, higher secondary exams, which
06:24is senior secondary, and after that I plan to go for further studies, plan to study further
06:33in university.
06:34I've always been interested in mathematics and physics, so that's what I've been planning
06:41to do, go abroad, go to my degrees and eventually research after I go to the master's doctorate.
06:49I want to be a jewellery designer, I design jewellery, and if I feel very independent
06:55if I keep doing that, I will do my best and not give up or anything.
07:01I want to make my parents proud and everyone else too.
07:04According to 2014 CDC statistics, 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism each year.
07:11With that number expected to rise, the message is clear.
07:14We must take steps to ensure the future for these children is secure in our world.
07:19I'm Salvi Girampaya, Golf News.
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