Senses of Malaysia – July 18, 2019

marvellous malaysian

Spectrums

of Brilliance

BY PRISCILLA EMMANUEL

W

hat do most

people think

of when the

subject of

special needs

students or

even adults come up? Do we feel pity,

sympathy, or maybe even a distinctive

fear of the unknown? Have we questioned

our unconscious biases towards autism,

dyslexia, ADHD, and other neuro-

behavioural disorders?

Our education on the wide spectrum of

autism is severely lacking on a general

scale, and it’s long overdue that we end

stigmas still attached to special needs

humans who depend on us to provide

a kinder and more acceptable world for

them to live in. Because without them,

we may never have benefited from the

countless contributions they have made to

science, art, and music, all of which have

changed the world.

According to data provided by the World

Health Organisation (WHO), one child

in 160 has been diagnosed with Autism

Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Of those

numbers, 50% have been recognized as

having intellectual disabilities with levels

of functionality varying from profound

Jamila and Noorhashimah

Art Studio