I met a family with a very peculiar child who kept on spinning objects on the floor for hours. We were invited to a dinner party by a dignified family of Northern Virginia. Most of the evening the guest were making sneering remarks underneath their breath about the host's boy, oh he is spoiled, he is nasty, he is impolite and such. Two hours into the party, the child is still on his own world, middle of the foyer, not making any eye contact with anyone or even noticing any one's presence. It took me five seconds to be friends with this boy. You see, I lie low to the ground and start spinning the flying saucer with him. We are friends now...Just like him, my daughter is autistic too.

So sry to hear abt ur daughter.........even my ex french gf is 13% autistic........but she is so lovely, beautiful n kind that I still love her..

Indeed they are beautiful. I feel more so for the kids back home than my daughter. It's her luck that she lives close to NIH and gets all the treatment there is available but I wonder what happens to Autistics back home. There are things these kids can do that baffles me everyday.

Rabig, You might enjoy A Different Kind of Boy by Daniel Mont. It's a really good book. If I remember right, the "story" ends way before the boy heads to college, but you will be delighted to know that the boy -- a real character -- is now a graduate of Stanford!

-Thank you M.P. Yes, I will inquire on that book. Since just about everything on Autism is so depressing, though "Rain Man" entertaining to some extend, is bit far-fetched of the real person's life that they depicted. Someone suggested that I should watch a Hindi movie called "Black" but knowing how Hindi movies pander on emotion, I have passed on it so far.

Rabiq, I'm sorry and am thankful for you sharing what's really important. I read an article about autism in Time (was the front -page then) a few years ago and alls not lost as research for such an issue is still ongoing and new breakthroughs were taking place even back then.

Like you, I wonder how those kids who suffer such issues back home could ever have the same advantage as the ones here. In Nepal, I did see an autustic kid in my neighborhood, but never once stopped to acknowledge that they are the same as us in most aspects. It was only with age that social resposibilty and awareness did take a fore-front stance. Watching tear jerkers such as "Rain Man" and "I am Sam" made me feel that our Nepali society has raised many of us wrong, where we tend to greatly look down upon handicapped people. These people given the help, equal opportunities and a right treatment would surely make it in our dog-eat-dog society.

BTW, "Black" is the exact remake of "The Miracle Worker", though not about autism, it does bring a point to light that us humans no matter how down-trodden can ovecome adversities. Also, We talk about how much problems our day to day lives have but once we stop and look at these people, it does make all our major issues seem trivial. They, in my mind are truly inspirational!

Thank you for bringing up this issue and I wish your daughter a long and healthy life.

Samsara, thank you for the kind words. The metro area where I live has at least three or four Nepalese kids with this disorder. Once I discreetly invited the selected family for an afternoon gathering but most chose not to bring their kids out of shame. Right now, only one of the family is fairly open with me -"The boy" I mentioned earlier. We, the boy's father and I walked for "Cure Autism now" this year. Many of our neighbors have asked me to alert them for next years charity walk, but next year, we're shooting for 5K race.

Rabig, thank you instead for bringing out a topic which is very much needed for discussion here. As per your post about parents being embarassed about bringin their kids out in public, I blame the old-nepali mentality that raised us all back home (attributing karmic principles for everything instead of finding a solution for the problem). As per my earlier post: "our Nepali society has raised many of us wrong, where we tend to greatly look down upon handicapped people". Being handicapped is not the end to everything and given a chance they could do as well as most "normal" folks out there. We've gotta realize that these kids deserve every bit of the love and affection that all children are entitled to.

Next year, when you take part in the 5K race, please let us here at Sajha know so that your/all of our's cause could be supported by all (either financially or morally). All the best!

http://www.sajha.com/sajha/chat/smileys/m-smile.gif I'll attach the event memo for Sajha friends to come join the run if anyone happen to be in the Potomac Maryland vicinity. The run is normally held on July 4th every year. This year there were around 1,200 runner/1mile walker...felt bad walking just a mile with grand ma and pa, so decided to take up the challenge of running next year. You're quit right about our society, but let's not be harsh, we're conditioned to hide our short comings instead of accepting it.

Hello,

Thank you very very much for talking about this. We have same problem with a family in ktm. I need advise for my nephew. Any help is good. Please reply my email. I new so not sure where to ask. I like to advise home if any thing possible. Please email me back.