Dhaka: Terming the persons with disabilities as a part of the society, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called upon all to be more sympathetic towards them for flourishing their latent talents.

The Prime Minister made the call while addressing a function marking the 8^th World Autism Awareness Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education jointly arranged the function.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim was present as the special guest at the function chaired by Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali.

A video message of Chairperson of National Autism Advisory Committee Saima Wazed Hossain was broadcast at the function.

State Minister for Social Welfare Ministry Advocate Promod Mankin, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Social Welfare Ministry Dr Mozammel Hossain and Social Welfare Secretary Nasima Begum also spoke on the occasion.

Putting emphasis on coming out of negative perception about autism, the Prime Minister said autism or disability is not a disease, rather it is a ‘diversity’ of creation.

‘Nobody has any hand about the children affected with autism. But there is some negative perception about autism in our society...we will have to come out of this negative perception,’ said the Prime Minister.

Sheikh Hasina said the tender-hearted children affected with autism could also be invaluable resource of the country if they are given special care keeping their special demands in mind.

In this connection, she said many world famous personalities including Albert Einstein, Darwin, Newton, Willium Battler Yeats and Stephen Hawking were autistic by born but autism could not create any obstacle to flourishing their talents.

Citing use of modern ICTs including computer, Internet and mobile phones by the autistic persons, the Prime Minister said they are now being able to show efficiency like healthy persons and can solve many of their problems.

She urged all concerned to develop software and hardware suitable for the autistic children as well as to make websites of various public and private organisations useable for them.

Describing various steps undertaken for the welfare of the autistic children, Sheikh Hasina said her government has created opportunities for them according to their qualification and efficiency.

The Prime Minister said 103 service and help centres have been set up in 64 districts to provide physiotherapy and other treatments to the persons with disability free of cost. “This service would be expanded to all upazilas of the country in phases,” she said.

She also listed other government measures for the welfare of the disabled persons including providing education stipend to the disabled students and preservation of the quota in the government jobs for them.

Stressing the need for educating and bringing physically and mentally challenged children in the mainstream of the society, Sheikh Hasina said a special coordinated education policy has been adopted to this end.

‘Under the policy, about 10 thousand mentally disabled students are getting access to 50 institutions for their education. About Taka 9.50 crore have been allocated for the purpose,’ she said adding the activities would be further expanded in future.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has already started works to setting up a special academy under the Education Ministry at a cost of Taka 60 crore to bring all disabled including autistic children in the main stream of education.

Besides, she said, an autism resource centre has been set up at the National Disability Development Foundation Campus at Mirpur in Dhaka to provide various services free of cost to autistic children and adults.

Highlighting success of the physically-challenged players in international sports competition, the Prime Minister said they have brightened the image of the country by achieving rare awards for several times in Para Olympic and Special Olympics.

Later, the Prime Minister witnessed a coulorful cultural function performed by the autistic children.