Educationist Meenakshi Dahal has said that it is not appropriate to formulate policies focusing solely on autism. According to her, the government needs to include all types of disabilities, including Down syndrome, along with autism, when formulating plans related to education and disability.
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The government has announced the establishment of model schools for children with autism in all seven provinces. In a program coordinated by the Ministry of Education on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), it was announced that one model school targeting autism children will be established in each of the seven provinces.
At the program, Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel informed that teachers will be provided to provide easy, simple and effective education to children with autism in the model schools (by understanding the emotions and psychology of the students).
Immediately after the announcement, the Ministry of Education has formed a 6-member technical committee to study the operation and service structure of schools for autistic children and has started the study. According to the Ministry's Deputy Secretary Bir Bahadur Dhami, the committee has 6 members including experts under the coordinator Roshan Shrestha, Deputy Director General of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction.
The committee will conclude the study within the next 2 weeks. According to Deputy Secretary Dhami, the committee will study how to operate autism schools, health and overall care of children, special attention to women and children, infrastructure and structure construction, observation of institutions in the valley, service facilities and risk assessment.
The committee will study what should be done if a new school needs to be opened by comparing it with the school structure of the province. He said that measures to solve the problems of children and parents will be recommended in the concept paper to be prepared after the study. He said, ‘Based on the recommendation of the committee, the ministry will move forward the policy and law formulation process.’ The committee’s work is expected to help ensure quality, accessible and inclusive education for autistic children.’
National Federation of Disabled Nepal President Devidatta Acharya said that the issue of opening a model school for autistic children is welcome. He emphasizes that it should not be separate in terms of inclusion, but should be established within the currently operating schools in accordance with the spirit of inclusive education. He said, ‘Since social inclusion and segregation according to the constitution are not allowed by the prevailing laws and constitution of Nepal, it is necessary to teach in an inclusive manner.’
Suggestion to include Down syndrome along with autism
Educationist Meenakshi Dahal has said that it is not appropriate to make a policy focusing only on autism. According to her, when the government makes plans related to education and disability, there is a need to include all types of disabilities including Down syndrome along with autism.
She stated that there are some resource classes and some inclusive schools in operation for the visually and hearing impaired in Nepal, and she opined that children with intellectual disabilities and Down syndrome should also be included in inclusive education.
Dahal also said that the system of keeping children with disabilities in model schools is not appropriate. She said, ‘It is more effective to make therapy services cheaper, easier and more accessible than opening a separate model school for autistic children.’
She emphasized the need to develop the necessary infrastructure, provide a suitable environment and provide therapy services for children with autism. She suggested that after studying with other children for a few classes, they should be guided towards skill development. She emphasized that the state should strengthen the inclusive education system and ensure equal opportunities for children with all types of disabilities.
Parents say – the government should help.
7-year-old Arab Bania from Bhaktapur was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old. His mother Vidya Thapa took her son from various schools to therapy. Many refused to admit him to school. She also took him to the ‘Special School and Rehabilitation Center’ run by Sabita Upreti.
2 years of therapy and education have improved him a lot . Currently, he studies at Arab Montessori School . His autism level has also decreased . His mother Vidya says that parents of children with autism face a lot of difficulties and are forced to pay expensive fees for their education . She said, ‘Therapy and education are 3-4 times more expensive than other children . A child costs 30,000 per month . I taught him for free.’ She said that even with the expenses, a parent should not leave him . She expects the government to look into the education and health of children with autism .
From therapy to lack of access to schools and lack of social understanding, children with autism are dropping out of formal education .
17-year-old Lijla Shrestha from Lalitpur is one of them . She is currently out of formal education. Always excited to go to school, she has not been able to go to school since last Shrawan. According to her mother Lalita Shrestha, she was expelled from school after grade 8 on the basis of her different behavior due to autism. "The school expelled her because she beat other children and her behavior made school difficult," said Lalita.
Lizla, who also struggles with Down syndrome, had been struggling with her habit of sleeping all day and staying up all night since she was a child. Currently, she is actively participating in dance, exercise, yoga and counseling by attending a therapy center. The family says that her daily life has improved due to therapy. Lalita wants to send her daughter to school and hopes that the government will support her in this.
