YUPIA, Apr 2: As part of World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month, a two-day State level workshop on ‘Understanding Autism and Neurodiversity’, drew to a successful close at the Govt College Doimukh (GCD) today.
Organized by the Department of English in collaboration with IQAC, GCD and Ayang Multipurpose Cooperative Society, the event aimed to create awareness on autism among students, educators, and educational institutions.
Ramar Jokik (DIPRO Yupia), Kaman Pertin Basar (founder of K Blooming Special School and Early Intervention Centre), and Dr Dharmeshwari Lourenbam (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Rajiv Gandhi University) attended the workshop as special invitee and resource persons respectively.
Addressing the gathering, Jokik highlighted the growing need for awareness on autism and emphasized the importance of organizing such programmes across educational institutions in the State.
She further encouraged all educators attending the workshop to keenly observe and identify early signs of autism among children and bring such observations to the notice of parents.
The DIPRO emphasized the important role of educators in guiding and counselling parents to seek timely intervention and therapy.
Highlighting that parental acceptance is the first and most crucial step in supporting children on the spectrum, she urged educators to help families understand and accept their children’s needs.
She further noted that many children with autism possess strong abilities in specific areas, and educators should identify these strengths and inform parents so that the children can be nurtured and guided accordingly.
Basar delivered an insightful session on Autism Spectrum Disorder, discussing its signs, traits, and lived experiences. She emphasized the importance of early identification and intervention, while also highlighting the need to break stigma, build empathy, and promote inclusivity in society.
Dr Lourenbam spoke on mental well-being, coping strategies, and essential life skills for students. She stressed the importance of addressing mental health issues openly and without judgment in today’s fast-paced world.
The programme concluded with an interactive session, where participants actively engaged with the resource persons.
The workshop witnessed participation from over 150 attendees, including students, faculty members of GCD, and educators from various institutions of Itanagar Capital Region and Papum Pare district.