Hope Autism Specialised School celebrates World Autism Awareness Day

This year, World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated in Bangladesh under the theme of "Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World."

The Hope Autism Specialised School, operated under the Autism Welfare Society, organised a rally to mark the day.

The rally started from Dhanmondi 15/A and ended at Dhanmondi Rabindra Sarobar, read a press release.

Autistic children, adolescents, and their parents also participate in the rally.

Rokhsana Siddiqua, coordinator of the school, said the school has been working for autistic children since 2008 and currently operating with a total of 80 students.

Dr Nusrat Yeasmin, the founding director of the Hope Autism Specialised School, said that the students are divided into two categories – above six years and under six years.

"There are early intervention activities for the students under six, and pre-academic, academic and vocational activities available for those students over six years of age," she said.

Yeasmin added that the school mainly provides training in social and emotional communication, vocational theory, and the ability to live independently, among others.

The school also conducts research on why children's social communication is delayed, she added.

After graduating from school, the students get involved in mainstream society and the school also provides counselling support to the students through virtual means if necessary, Yeasmin continued.