KUCHING: Autism can be tough on the afflicted and their loved ones, especially when you have to reconcile with the fact that they can never get to be as ‘normal’ as you want them to be.
Kuching Association of Talent Development and Welfare of Special Needs (KATSN) adviser Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok knows all too well about the reality that sets in.
He has an autistic son, Alister, who is now 24-years-old.
On Tuesday, in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day he took pains to give a glimpse of the darkness that envelops the family when a child is born autistic.
In a candid interview with the New Sarawak Tribune he spoke of the many difficulties for them to accept him as he is.
“The realisation that even with the various interventions we put him through, we cannot get him to be normal like us,” he said.
But with the right kind of help and support autistic individuals have the ability to achieve measured success and Sim, who attests to this, called on the government to do more for people with special needs, in this instance, those with autism.
“Our state government can assist in the medical cost especially for doing their diagnostic tests such as blood test, analytical behaviour and their therapy cost for those who are affected in their speech due to autism,” he said.
But at the same time, he is happy that there are various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here that assist in behavioural intervention of young autistic children, as well as the work that has been put into by the parents group, volunteers and government to help the special group of Sarawak.
“However, there is a demand for job training centres for these special young adults after they have finished their secondary school where they can be productive adults who contribute to our community and economy,” he said.
He added there are incentives provided by the federal government to employ adults with special needs, and hoped the incentive can be further improved.
“I hope more Sarawakians will be aware of this special group of people who live among us. They are considered special because they have learning difficulties and some may also have physical challenges for them to behave like us ordinary folk,” he said.
Turning back to his son, he said Alister has just finished a three months course by Gamuda Enabling Academy to train him to be able to work in various industries.
“He went through an intensive 9am to 5pm work routine under his job coach learning self grooming, budgeting, motivation, job training as data clerk, housekeeping and so forth.
“We hope that with this training the Academy has helped him to bring him back into our normal work society,” he said.
Sim said the state government also has a similar job training centre, Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre for special adults in Samarahan and the training provided includes electrical, sewing, computing and hairdressing.
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.
