Local family breaks the boundaries of autism

AS World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2, local mother of twin boys who fall on the autistic spectrum shares her journey. The day recognises and spreads awareness for the rights of people with autism. The condition typically starts during childhood and continues into adulthood.

There is no better way to celebrate this day than by becoming aware of the characteristics of people with this condition and how all of us can do better to increase our own understanding and promote kindness.

Pravina Pillay, mother to Ushay and Kieran, said she frequently encounters misconceptions about autism, “I don’t think that there’s enough awareness surrounding autism. People have labelled my children as naughty. They have been called loud and disruptive.”

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“We were once asked by the body corporate at a building we were staying at, before we purchased our home, to provide the other residents with a written description of what autism is to go with pictures of our sons – that would be handed out around the building. They described it as a warning to other residents,” she said.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder characterised by behavioural and communicational affections that impact a person’s ability to navigate social interactions and also causes repetitive and restricted behaviour.

When Pravina and her husband Sugen discovered that their son was autistic, they did everything they could to educate themselves. “Our youngest son, Ushay, was diagnosed first at two and a half years old.

“We didn’t go into denial, we had never heard of autism and we researched everything about it.

We got him to an occupational therapist immediately – we took the doctor’s advice but we were also attentive to his specific needs because every child is different.”

Despite the criticism they have faced surrounding autism, Pravina and Sugen have become advocates for the disorder.

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Pravina sits of the Executive Committee of Action in Autism, a nonprofit organisation that supports and fundraises for people with autism and their families.

“The learning has been phenomenal. It helps to speak to other families but also to share your story because you never know, your experiences could help another parent with their child,” said Pravina.

According to their mother, the boys have different types of autism, “Kieran is on the Asperger’s side of the spectrum, he is more reserved socially, whereas with Ushay, he is very social. Autism is so broad, that’s why they call it a spectrum condition. The two of them are on the spectrum but at completely different places.”

Kieran and Ushay are each other’s best friends. Their father says that their closeness is largely due to the fact that they’re twins and have experienced most things together.

The brothers are Grade 5 learners at St Raphaels, “I love playing Xbox with my brother, we play FIFA 2016 and basketball games and I would with him all day if I could,” said Kieran.

Twelve year old Ushay proclaims that he’s the best at FIFA, “I’m better than Kieran at FIFA, I sometimes let him win, but he only wins when I allow it. I’m the FIFA champion, but he’s my favourite person to play games with,” said Ushay.

Pravina and Sugen have some advice for parents with autistic children, “Being in denial about your child having autism will only be detrimental to your child. A lot of parents themselves have not accepted that their child is autistic and they don’t get the early intervention that they need. It will harm your child in the long-run,” said Sugen.

“Early intervention is key, we never excluded the boys from anything. You must work according to who they are as individuals and what their needs are as individuals,” said Pravina.

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