APRIL 7 ― As another World Autism Week comes to a close we wonder what will be the next step for autistic Malaysians.

The growing knowledge of autism in Malaysian societies is there-we can’t deny it and will embrace it. As more families look into how to accommodate their daughters, sons, nieces and nephews and grandkids we are going to look forward on how we can fully integrate our autistic citizens into society. No time is better than now.

How is another matter.

As a relative to someone who has autism I can only empathise with other family members of our blessed ones. The world of autism covers a wide spectrum and those who identify within it are as varied as the rest of their neurotypical counterparts. It ain’t all about the Rain Man. How families deal with it, however is a lot more easier to generalise. You’ll find the relatives that “pray the sickness away”. The ones that will call it an “oddity” of risks rather than a condition.

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Then there’s those family members who want to learn and stumble along the way, working with the triggers and likes and dislikes gaining an abundance of knowledge along the way. Some are independent whereas others seek help. Overall to actually know an autistic person is the opportunity to learn another world.

Facilities for autistic people are far from non existent in Malaysia but there is definitely plenty of room for development. Most public efforts are made by a collaborative approach from parents and caregivers who have firsthand experience of caring for someone with autism. It is primarily from this joint spirit that autism awareness exists in this country. Then there are the schools for the disabled, who partner with leading multinational companies for workshops employing the Khas. What the latter institutions do for enabling autistic patrons in general remains to be discussed as a majority of them cater to all disabled students which decreases a specialised focus on individual needs. Mainstream schools are ill equipped to deal with autistic students-teachers aren't trained to cater for anyone outside the neurotypical range. Classes catered for children with learning difficulties, when available, usually have a long wait as if education is a secondary need for autistic students when it is in fact a priority. We could look to the Western countries that facilitate much more but not everyone can afford to convert the ringgit to the dollar.

On a personal level, we lucked out. My relative decided to start his 21st birthday with a bang. We didn’t give him a simple silver key ― he decided to unlock proper adulthood himself. There were no closed off family birthday parties with sympathetic smiles and extra buckets of chicken. He spent it on a holiday in Europe with concessioned access to music venues, fun themed exhibitions, museums and theme parks. He stood in awe while participating in a crowd of motocross shows, hugged cuddly mascot monsters and admired fierce stage performers who thankfully accepted his ‘cantik’ remarks with grace. Even certain events and workshops took a few minutes extra to accommodate him after they had clearly closed for the day. He was a VIP member in buildings that weren’t his home because one, he’s the life and soul of the party and two, because he’s autistic. As said before, not every person on the spectrum is Rain Man.

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Autistic people aren’t encouraged to stay in the alleged safety of four walls in the West ― they’re encouraged to go out more. This enables them to grasp independent life skills which means much to their loved ones, from selecting things at the shop to greeting a familiar face with a self thought handshake. How can we be expecting normality if we fail to create it for everyone? That said the West doesn’t have all the answers on how Malaysia can cater for her autistic citizens. We have a strong family network, technology and public spaces that Europe and US can only dream of owning and a transport system which makes those infamous metro subways resemble Zambonis. The very things that will change an autistic persons life for the better had they had improved access to them.

Autistic people aren’t sob stories. They’re not relatives to be ashamed of. They’re not asking for your pity either. When my relative decides to take a sidestep to his favourite music spot while we’re going for dinner, he’s not asking for my permission-he stating he wants to go there. He’s not being difficult or spoilt, he’s being a typical twenty one year old who likes to listen to music outside his headphones. Don’t get me started on trying to get him out of bed early on the weekend though.

It is weird that despite having an attitude that says we should be proud of our culture and tread slowly in developing others, Malaysia is well known for adapting a culture of selfies and shopping, or even willing to start afresh in certain parts of the east coast, swapping wayang kulit for dirhams. Why is there reluctance to adopt a culture of inclusion for those who absolutely need it and will create a winning solution internationally at the same time? What’s wrong with Malaysia being known as a leader in unconditional inclusion?

There is massive potential for Malaysia to improve on autism facilities. The businesses are a good start for one. Autistic patrons are sometimes sensitive to noise. Meanwhile during morning hours shops and cinemas dwindle at the lack of patronage. That’s where your autistic patron belongs. Certain countries have already set aside morning hours for autistic visitors in shops and cinemas whereby speakers are kept to a lower volume and there is more personal space.

Although it will take a while for healthboards to fully promote autism awareness, companies could be making a head start in leaps and bounds. If it is that we need to educate those who require more knowledge, something simple such as a concession entrance free for khas card holders would be highly beneficial and everyone wins-the autistic persons concerned, their family members and the company for not losing out on a wider range of customers. Imagine an entire crowd of autistic people all paying concessions in a group outing-there would be no question of cutting losses in the least.

Malaysia has a fantastic history with trade and that’s one thing we hope to keep. Aswell as exchanging selfies and hashtags, we can incorporate more knowledge on how to make things that much better for her autistic citizens.They need to feel included rather than secluded. It’s an obvious attitude we have with our elderly who don’t have relatives that are able to look after them. Let’s try not spread that mindset towards our future too.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.