Autism- "It is because he looks so normal ...people just don't understand"

I had a opportunity learn more about autism during a psychiatry rotation visit to The Association of Resource and Education for Autistic Children (Lions REACh) in Gelugor. The center is build to help those children who diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum disorders especially Autism. Nowadays, autism becoming more and more common... 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with autism worldwide.

Autism is a life-long developmental disability that generally appears between 15 and 20 months of age which is characterized by :

• Problems with Social interaction
• Impairment of communication
• Repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior and activities

Double click on picture to enlarge!

The center is a non-government and non-profit organization which runs on donations and volunteering. Lead by a noble, cheerful and optimistic Dr See Ching Mey. We were given talk about the autism itself and the role of the center in shaping the life of autism kids so he or she can blend and function in the community that sometime can be cruel and unaware of their problems. During the visit, we had a chat with 3 kids who is a regular to the center and each of them have different level autism severity. We get to observed their behavior but more important, knowing how autism had affected their life, family, friends and society.

It's remarkable how the center have help this kids and their family which is simply described by the drawing below. It was drawn by the oldest of the kids who is 17 years old. He astronomically improved after attending the center for 11 years and honestly, i really can't see any features of autism in him. After chatting with his teachers, he still have some problems in socializing with people and we find out that he has a best friend who only calling him by phone asking help for his English homework. sigh!

Double click on the picture to enlarge!

Thank you for those that help me to open my eyes and look them in different perspective. They are just like other kids....but more unique and interesting, who need people around them to understand and treat them accordingly, and definitely with lots of love and care! let them be apart of the society.

My crazy group mates that made the visit memorable!
>More pictures<

Want to understand more about autism?

1)More info at Autistic Collaboration, Early Autism Project Malaysia. and Lions REACh

2)Watch this video by University of California.


3)Read this book!! Very interesting yet true to autistic spectrum disorder. A murder mystery novel like no other. The detective and narrator, is Christopher Boone, a 15 years old kids with Asperger's Syndrome(milder form of autism).I bought the bookmark during the visit which is hand painted by the autistic children! Cute!
4)If you are lazy to read and allergic to boring lecture...why not watch a movie about a man with autism? Do u remember "Rain Man" starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. A film Base on true story of a American savant, Kim Peek who born in 1952. Below a clip showing Rainman threw temper tantrum after he been force to board a plane. Cool film! Yana has the CD!


p/s: Donation and volunteering to Lions REACh is much welcome!

"I held up my hand and spread my fingers out in a fan and we made our fingers and thumbs touch each other. We do this because sometimes Father wants to give me a hug, but i do not like hugging people, so we do this instead, and it means that he loves me" Christopher Boone.