CAIRO: Around the world, April 2 is dedicated to celebrating the talents and skills of people with autism as well as raising awareness about the disorder. World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) highlights the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention as well as the developmental challenges faced by people suffering from autism. While Egypt has a long way to go in terms of public and media attention, the level of awareness is a far cry from what it was a few years back. "Seven or eight years ago autistic individuals were usually misdiagnosed with other disorders, Dr Dahlia Soliman, founder and president of the Egyptian Autistic Society, said. "More importantly, there wasn't any place for autistic children, they were placed in basic special needs schools which were poorly funded and the teachers weren't looking after the children so they didn't improve. [Plus] autistic children can't be treated [and educated] with other special needs children . they need special programs, she explained. "Now it is much better than it was, it is a common word, there are those who come to us misdiagnosed as autistic when they're not. However, there are still some places outside Cairo where people haven't heard of [autism], she said. Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges, according to Suzanne and Bob Wright, founders of Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments and the public. "It is typically diagnosed around the age of two to three years old and exists throughout a person's life, said Wright, adding that the symptoms can vary dramatically from mild to severe. The Wrights founded Autism Speaks in 2005 after their grandson was diagnosed with the disorder. "We realized very quickly that there were few resources available for children with autism and no roadmap for parents to follow after receiving the life changing diagnosis. We also learned how little research was being funded to improve the situation, they told Daily News Egypt. "We felt we had no choice but to take action, they added. A major misconception in Egypt is that autistic children are aggressive and non-educable, said Soliman. The Egyptian Autistic Society was founded in 1999 to cater to individuals with autism and their families and to increase awareness and understanding of the disorder in Egypt. Their main aim is to provide early intervention services that address autistic children's learning and development needs. The society caters to children with autism between the ages of two and 11, and they currently have 300 students from all over Egypt. "We work with the children from nursery, working on speech therapy, recognizing family members, etc, explained Soliman. "Our ultimate goal is to mainstream every autistic child we have, she said. Today, they have succeeded in sending off 30 students to mainstream schools and 20 to mainstream nurseries. The society is working on raising awareness on autism by placing posters explaining 'what is autism' at pediatric clinics, toy stores and "everywhere a mother would go. This is the second year WAAD is celebrated after the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139 on Dec 18, 2007, tabled by the State of Qatar, declaring April 2 WAAD in perpetuity. "World Autism Awareness Day shines a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism epidemic and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention, said UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in an official statement for the celebration. What to look for: There are different signs to look for at different ages, but a few of the most common signs are lack of name recognition, inability to make and maintain eye contact and loss of words at any age. In clinical terms, there are a few "absolute indicators, often referred to as "red flags, that indicate that a child should be evaluated. For a parent, these are the "red flags that your child should be screened to ensure that he or she is on the right developmental path. If your baby shows any of these signs, ask your pediatrician or family practitioner for an immediate evaluation: - No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter- No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter- No babbling by 12 months- No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months- No words by 16 months- No two-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months- Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age
