Drawing and other cultural activities help to develop their full potential. It is part of the process of providing them a better and more inclusive environment
Drawing and other cultural activities help to develop their full potential. It is part of the process of providing them a better and more inclusive environmentEleven-year-old Foysal Mahmud is a special child.
His mother, Khaleda Afroz says: “Foysal is impatient. He also cannot tolerate being told what to do or being given advice. He does what he wants to do.”
She looks fondly at her son as she speaks. Foysal is busy drawing a picture of a smiling mother handing the national flag to her freedom fighter son, collaged with three youths aiming guns at Pakistani army men and two children chanting slogans.
She leans over and tells him that the flag should be green and red in colour and not blue and red. Foysal stares at her blankly before throwing away his canvas.
There are 63 other children like Foysal at the “Apon Anonde Aaki” art camp organised by the Institute of Paediatric Neurodisorder and Autism (IPNA) on the premises of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Saturday morning to mark World Autism Awareness Day 2017.
Seated in rows, the children’s excitement is palpable as they are busy with their drawings, their parents hanging around them, helping them understand instructions or merely providing support.
Khaleda says two of her four children have autism.
“My eldest son, Mahmud Hasan Mishu, is now 22 years old,” she said.
When Mishu was four years old, Khaleda and her husband Abdul Motaleb noticed that their child behaved different from others his age.
“We contacted an organisation which works for autistic children. He is now taking a vocational course at Parents Forum School,” she explained.
“We monitored Mishu so closely that we were able to catch Foysal’s autism early. Through proactive treatments and careful nursing, he has improved a lot.”
At six years of age, Khaleda was able to get Foysal admitted to a regular school where he was able to mix with others his age.
“Foysal is now a seventh grader. The headmaster and teachers have helped considerably by taking special care of him,” said Khaleda.
Another participant, 14-year-old Imon, draws a yellow and red coloured train while his father Md Harun watches on.
“He wanted his mother to bring him here today but she was busy. He got so annoyed. He screamed and shouted a lot at home. After coming here though, he is happy,” said Harun.
Imon studies at the Society for the Welfare of Autistic Children.
IPNA autism instructor Mamataz Begum told the Dhaka Tribune that they invited children from 16 schools which work with autism. Children who are under the IPNA’s supervision have also been included.
“Drawing and other cultural activities help to develop their full potential. It is part of the process of providing them a better and more inclusive environment,” she explained.
Social Welfare Secretary M Zillur Rahman was present as the chief guest and Korean International Cooperation Agency Country Director Joe Hyungue was special guest. IPNA Project Director Dr Shahin Akhter and art camp judges Dhaka University Fine Arts Dean Prof Nisar Hossain and renowned actress Bipasha Hayat were present, among others. BSMMU professor Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan chaired the program.
