Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is becoming the most important topic of the discussion in India, recognising the early signs and accessing the right support remains complex and overwhelming.
Many autistic people grow up differently, often called "rude" for the behaviours that they don't have, but it comes from their sensory and communication differences.
"World Autism Awareness Day" is an internationally recognised day by the United Nations to take measures and raise global awareness of autism, promote acceptance and appreciate the inclusion of autistic individuals' contributions.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder is related to brain development that affects how people see others and communicate with them. This also includes limited and repeated patterns of behaviour.
The term "spectrum" refers to the wide range of symptoms and the severity of these symptoms.
Autism Spectrum Disorder also includes conditions that are once separate like Aspergers Syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder.
What Is The Theme of Autism Awareness Day 2026?
The theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2026 is "Autism and Humanity - Every Life Has Value," focusing on affirming the dignity, rights, and equal worth of all autistic individuals.
The focus areas of World Autism Day 2026 are:
Human Rights & Dignity
Shifting from Awareness to Inclusion
Every Life Has Value
Global Advocacy
Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Children often give early signs of autism such as;
Less eye contact
Not responding to their names
Limited joint attention
Delayed gestures
Repetitive behaviors
Limited communication
In some cases, early stages of ASD are not visible in their childhood. They develop this gradually when they grow up like they become aggressive, use foul language.
Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
There are no fixed causes for ASD, since the condition is complex and symptoms vary. So there could be two causes:
Genetic: Some develop autism from their genes. It is related to genetic conditions like Rett Syndrome or Fragile X Syndrome.
For many children genetic genetic changes may risk autism spectrum disorder.
Environmental Factors: Viral infections, medicines, complications during pregnancy and air pollutants play a major role in causing ASD.
Why Is India A Growing Concern For ASD?
In India, autism is no longer considered rare; it has become a public concern with 1 out of 65 to 1 out of 68 children. However the numbers could be more due to underdiagnosis.
"Earlier therapies, such as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), alongside speech and occupational therapy, have made the foundation of autism care, which aimed at building communication skills, social skills, and adaptive behaviors, but with medical advancement, the healthcare sector is moving towards modern therapies that primarily address the root biological, neurological, and sensory aspects of ASD," reported by NDTV says Dr. Manish Kulshrestha, Senior Consultant - Neurology, Paras Health Udaipur.
"While these traditional approaches remain integral to the treatment, the biomedical front is exploring how the body may influence behaviour and development in autism. Researchers are studying areas related to gut health, nutrition, microbiome modulation, and targeted supplementation to observe how they may correlate to autism. Although still emerging, these approaches highlight the importance of personalized medicine, recognising that autism is not a single condition but a spectrum with diverse causes and presentations," reported by NDTV he adds.
What We Can Do To Overcome ASD?
These are the list of things that you can do:
Listen and learn from the autistic voices
Avoid assumptions, behavior is communication, think before judging.
Keep Patience, allow time to people to respond
Speak with respect not pity.
Gently correct insensitive comments when there is misinformation.
Disclaimer:This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.