Inclusive education panel members visit autism support centre

Members of the State Advisory Committee on Inclusive Education visited the first ever Autism Support Centre established at Chinakakani in Mangalagiri Mandal of Guntur district on Saturday (March 7).

The committee members, including Yelamanchili MLA S. Vijay Kumar, Adoni MLA P.V. Parthasarathi, Vizianagaram MLA P. Aditi Vijayalakshmi Gajapathi Raju, Udayagiri MLA Kakarla Suresh and Chittoor MLC Kancharla Srikant, along with Advisor to the State government on Inclusive Education Ram Kamal, Samagra Shiksha Assistant State Project Director (ASPD) K. Ravindranath Reddy and officials from the Inclusive Education wing interacted with the staff and parents of the students.

They said the Andhra Pradesh government has taken a progressive step by identifying autism as a significant concern and it is working towards scientific and practical solutions.

MLA Aditi Vijayalakshmi said the government had taken a pioneering step in scientifically addressing autism for the first time in the country. She said A.P. was also the first State in the country to constitute a special committee on autism

The committee members said children with autism spectrum disorder had unique challenges and needs and required individual attention and customised support. They said efforts were being made to study each child’s condition individually and provide appropriate interventions. The government was working to support parents who faced emotional and social challenges while raising children with autism spectrum.

They said a structured plan was being prepared to train ASHA workers and Anganwadi staff at the village level to identify early symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and expressed confidence that these initiatives will soon be implemented effectively and will become a model programme for the entire country in shaping a better future for children with autism.

Later, the committee members had lunch served under Dokkaa Seethamma Midday Meal scheme at the Zilla Parishad High School located on the same premises.