The Responsibilities of Parents and the Rights of Autistic Children

BY LINDA NWOKE

Alexa is a bright and imaginative seven-year-old girl living in her creative world. A world that includes her and shuts most people out, characterized by complex social interactions even with her immediate family members. Alexa finds it challenging to make friends and does not understand social cues, like facial expressions and body language, that say someone is happy, sad, or mad. She remains oblivious to it all.

Unlike other girls her age, she likes to follow a routine, and you will also notice some repetitive behaviors like repeating phrases and pushing the buttons on her clothes. Disrupting her routine often makes her confused and scared, resulting in distressed behavior like throwing a tantrum. This serves as a form of expressing or communicating her emotional state.

Hence, adhering to a structured routine and schedule gives her solace and causes her to be calm. The need for consistency and predictability makes her feel secure and comforted in an otherwise confusing and unpredictable world.

She gets easily overwhelmed by loud noises and bright lights, leading to sensory overload and making it difficult for her to focus. Whenever she feels overwhelmed, she flaps her hands and twirls as a form of expression since she is nonverbal compared to other children her age.

Alexa's heightened sensory sensitivity and other behaviors described led to her being diagnosed as a person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A condition is known for its differences in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors.

Despite Alexa's challenges, she has an incredible memory and the ability to recall information with precision and remarkable accuracy. She also likes specific topics, such as nature and animals, which she could spend hours exploring, which makes her a fascinating person.

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting the individual's neurological and developmental composition. According to a CDC report (2020), it is found in one out