‘Autistic children loaded with talents’

Stating that children with autism are as potential as normal kids, Rekha Supriya, principal of Chrysalis – School for holistic development of children with autism, said their talent can be identified through prolonged observation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the annual day celebrations of Chrysalis in Adyar on Saturday, she noted that children with autism are filled with good talents. “A child (with autism) may look silent, but he can play the piano very well. In fact, they are good in mathematics, as these kids are quite logical,” she said. Their talents could be identified through prolonged observations, with the periods differing from one child to another, she added.

Supriya said autism is not a disease, but a neurological disorder. “Research findings indicate that genetic, environmental, immunologic and metabolic factors may influence the development of the disorder. Autism is more prevalent in boys than girls,” she pointed out. According to her, earlier one in every 150 persons had autism, which is presently at one in every 100. 

Citing the case of a boy with autism, who had emerged successful by completing education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and enrolled for higher education, she observed that a holistic development is required to make the children come out with flying colours.

To prove her point, Chrysalis’s children performed skit, dance, yoga and silambattam performances on the occasion.