{"id":16256,"date":"2026-04-04T00:03:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T00:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/?p=16256"},"modified":"2026-04-04T00:03:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T00:03:35","slug":"rising-awareness-persistent-gaps-autism-in-kashmir-demands-early-action-inclusive-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/2026\/04\/04\/rising-awareness-persistent-gaps-autism-in-kashmir-demands-early-action-inclusive-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising awareness, persistent gaps: Autism in Kashmir demands early action, inclusive support"},"content":{"rendered":"

Experts call for timely diagnosis, better services, societal acceptance<\/strong><\/p>\n

More families seek help for \u2018Autism Spectrum Disorder\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Srinagar, Apr 03: Experts on Friday said that there is urgent need to deepen understanding, promote early diagnosis, and strengthen support systems for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Kashmir.<\/p>\n

Renowned psychiatrist Dr Abrar Guroo while talking to the news agency\u2014Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, \u201cIt\u2019s important to approach autism with empathy and sensitivity rather than limiting it to a clinical diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n

“As a psychiatrist, one thing I have learnt from children with autism is that they experience the world differently, not less deeply. Our job is not to change who they are, but to understand them better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Guroo elaborated that autism is far more than a label in medical records; it represents a spectrum of unique developmental patterns that vary from child to child.<\/p>\n

“Autism is not simply a diagnosis in a file. It is a child who may struggle to speak, to connect, or to be understood\u2014but with early support and patience, their potential can surprise us all,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Another leading psychiatrist, Dr. Aijaz Abdullah, highlighted the transformative impact of early recognition and professional support. \u201cEarly signs of autism\u2014such as delayed speech, minimal eye contact, repetitive behaviours, and challenges in social interaction\u2014are frequently overlooked in many Kashmiri households. These signs are often dismissed as temporary delays, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention,\u201d said Dr Abdullah, adding, \u201cMany parents come to us worried about delayed speech or poor eye contact. Recognising these signs early and seeking help can make a huge difference in the child\u2019s development.\u201d<\/p>\n

“We should remember that awareness is only the first step. What families really need is acceptance, support, and early intervention,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Both experts emphasized that autism should not be viewed as a limitation but as a different way of perceiving and interacting with the world.<\/p>\n

“Autism is not a lack of ability; it is a different way of experiencing and communicating with the world,\u201d Dr. Abdullah said.<\/p>\n

Dr Guroo added that Autism also challenges societal norms and perceptions, urging communities to adopt a more inclusive outlook. “One thing autism teaches us is humility\u2014every mind works differently, and sometimes the child is not the one who needs to change; the world around them does,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite increasing awareness, access to specialized therapies\u2014including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioural interventions\u2014remains limited in Kashmir, particularly in rural and remote areas. Many families are forced to travel long distances or depend on expensive private services, placing both financial and emotional strain on caregivers,\u201d said another doctor.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cParents of children with autism often grapple with social stigma and a lack of understanding within their communities, further compounding their challenges\u201d (KNO)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Experts call for timely diagnosis, better services, societal acceptance More families seek help for \u2018Autism Spectrum Disorder\u2019 Srinagar, Apr 03: Experts on Friday said that there is urgent need to deepen understanding, promote early diagnosis, and strengthen support systems for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Kashmir. Renowned psychiatrist Dr Abrar Guroo while talking to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-news","category-kt-front"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16256"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16258,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16256\/revisions\/16258"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}