A is for Autism, A is for Aspire, A is for Attempt, A is for Achieve

Rain Man.

Remember that movie? I know its old, bordering on ancient but its the only one that comes to mind on what I want to write about here. And if you are still lost, it's that movie where Dustin Hoffman plays a middle aged autistic man. He even got an Oscar for it too, if I remember correctly. Click on this whole sentence to get more information about the movie. Anyway, never in my life did I ever fathom that I'd be able to meet a character similar to how Raymond Babbit was. That's right. An autistic savant, in this case a 9 year old boy with the insane ability to do 4 digit by 4 digit multiplications in a second and getting the answer right each time, without the use of any assisting devices. Takes me about four seconds at least to key in the values and get an answer on my calculator. And he isn't the only one with such an astounding ability. If it weren't for his behavioral modulation and sensory needs, he would have probably been included in one of our local education system's many gifted programs. The same would go for those who are exceptionally talented in art, writing or acting. Would they even be able to get jobs after their educational years pass?

And though it was said that we are to be an inclusive society, with no Singaporean left behind. The fact remains that we, the society as a whole, are still ages behind most other nations in terms of implementing socially beneficial policies. Especially those with little to no financial benefit.

There is no doubt that the way we treat people with special needs nowadays is significantly improved as to how we would have a decade ago. And with all the effort that is being placed, sufficient or otherwise, I am sure that in time, most of the needs of this section of the community will be met. How much time? I guess that depends a lot on how seriously policies on this matter is implemented and how much effort is being made to educate the general public as a whole on the issue at hand.

At very least that I can say right now, is that we are trying.