Autistic kids abused by clueless parents

Star: RAUB: Many cases of child abuse stemmed from a lack of understanding about autistic children, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.
She said many parents do not know how to handle the so-called “naughty” children and this could lead to fights between them and abuse of the children.
She explained that children with autism have a lifelong disability that blocks their learning and communication capacity as well as emotional and social development.
“Most parents do not realise what is wrong when their children behave strangely, like wanting to distance themselves from other people, being hyperactive or not able to take meals on their own,” she added.
However, autism does not have to be a “life sentence” to the children if there is early intervention through education and behavioural management, Dr Ng told reporters during a visit to a health camp at SRK Sempalit, near here, yesterday.
Through this, she said, these kids could emerge from their autism to function like other “near-normal children”.
She added that some studies had shown that for every 110 children in the world, one is an autistic child.
Dr Ng commended the National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) on its efforts to help such children and encouraged parents with this condition to seek help from any of the 13 Nasom centres nationwide.
She said the society planned to organise courses to train 2,000 preschool and primary school teachers on how to approach and teach autistic children.