Increase in Autism among children : Over 9,000 identified in Sri Lanka
Education Ministry officials say there has been a noticeable increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism in Sri Lanka and that, according to statistics, over 9,000 children have currently been identified.This was disclosed during a meeting with the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs held in Parliament on Tuesday (08 Apr), chaired by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj.
During the meeting, the Committee Chair, Minister Paulraj, emphasized that due to the lack of proper diagnosis, many children continue to suffer from various disabilities.
She further stated that children with autism should be identified during their early developmental stages and that only through early diagnosis can they be guided toward a healthy developmental path. Accordingly, she stressed the need to implement an active mechanism to monitor and attend to children from birth, starting from the period under the supervision of the Public Health Midwife and throughout the early childhood development stages.
Minister Paulraj also revealed that plans are in place to establish three model daycare centers in identified regions for children with autism. It was also proposed to appoint a committee to carry out the necessary arrangements for this initiative, with the intention of guiding such children through appropriate stages of development.
Education Ministry officials also informed the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs that a six-month training program has been proposed for students who are undergoing training to become teachers, in their respective Colleges of Education, on handling children with disabilities.
The officials further stated that the objective of this training is to equip teachers with the necessary knowledge and attitudes to treat children with disabilities equally to other children.The Committee Chair, Minister Saroja Paulraj, also stated that steps are being taken to bring preschools operating under various mechanisms across the island under one standardized system. Additionally, officials informed the Committee that a joint policy on preschool education is currently being developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
They also stressed the importance of implementing the preschool curriculum framework that has already been drafted.
