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Autism: Ahed's mother writes
Published on Fri, Oct 06, 2006 at 14:33, Updated on Tue, Oct 10, 2006 at 17:11 in 
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New Delhi: Two days after CNN-IBN Citizen Journalist Prithvi Raj reported on how security personnel at Bangalore airport did not let his autistic boy board a plane, labelling him dangerous, there has been a collective outrage among the readers of ibnlive.com.
Readers, some of them parents of specially-abled children, have written in to express their outrage and also laud Prithvi Raj and his wife’s resolve to create awareness about the issue.
Writes Rashmin Perla, “I am deeply touched by the story of Prithvi Raj’s son being discriminated like this. The people who treat special people like this must be jailed if not a more serious punishment. Special children are human too and we often treat dogs better. I am a single father and have a special child of my own. I am often ridiculed, stared at in malls and at airports its hell. My son is only eight years old and very young now but I fear the kind of reactions I continue to face. Thank you for the story and I hope people see the difficulties of a simple activity for the parents of a special child and special children.”
Prithvi Raj’s wife and Ahed’s mother Beena Prithvi Raj wrote in to ibnlive.com and expressed her gratitude for the support shown by readers and viewers. |
We either feel we should mind our own business or there is no point in interfering. When it happens to you, you get all shaken up and the first thought that comes to you is 'people don’t care'. We were wrong. People do care. There is still hope. Now and then u just need to remind them. Basically we are all kind and sensitive people. It’s just that life sometimes becomes too mechanical. The unbelieveable and overwhelming responses that we have received just goes to prove that. Before this incident our constant fear was "Will Ahed be ok in this insensitive mechanical world?” Now we know he'll be okay. We have started now, let’s not stop. Let’s keep pushing as far as it goes. Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to respond." |
"If we were to write two days ago, we'd probably have said that people should be more sensitive to someone different like Ahed. We often see things like this happening to other people. Similar were the responses of most other readers. Writes a reader from US, Girish Rao, “I am just appalled at the whole incident. In India, an autistic person and the family has to undergo harsh and insensitive comments and treatments from society. Not only the government, but our schools and homes should be the main training ground for developing sensitivity to any form of physical condition of our children and citizen. I remember growing up, even a child wearing glasses were made fun at school leave along any other form of other physical condition. In the US, I have seen parents being more sensitive to the disabilities of other children and take time in explaining to their children about the special condition of other children. In Indian movies too, it is also common to make fun of autistic persons. Hope our schools and homes become the first learning ground of our children to other's sensitivities.”
Some readers like Sriram Chaganti also appreciated the role of media for taking up the issue which is, most often, overlooked. “I appreciate your efforts in bringing the citizens concerns to light. I always see that media does not complete their job by not following up with an issue. But I am glad this has been.”
Chaganti also offers a solution for the “root problem”. “Rather than looking at what action is taken against the CISF personnel, I feel it is important to look for the root cause of this. We have to see if the CISF and Airport Authorities train their people on how to handle and facilitate people with disabilities. It has to be understood that these people were never told or trained to handle and deal with disabled people. So I find the system at fault rather than the individual. I feel it is this awareness that government should concentrate on. Does the road transport authorities train the drivers and conductors how they have should behave and deal with disabled people? I am sure not. All this is moral science which need to be taught in schools.”
He also urges Prithvi Raj to take up the cause more vigorously.“I appreciate Prithvi Raj for taking this big step. This is a good chance for us to start educating people on this. I feel if Prithvi Raj can get the support of film industry the message can reach to millions of people.”
Life for disabled children in India is hard, the society is cruel and the government callous. Do you know of disabled children who have been discriminated against or harassed? Do you know of disabled children who are winners? Write to us or send videos through MMS to 9873544444 or e-mail at citizen@ibnlive.com
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