Autism is not a hindrance to success

KUALA LUMPUR: In a peaceful corner of Sentul, Hazim Zainudin was scribbling on pieces of paper with sketches and Japanese characters, known as Katakana.
The short, straight strokes showed his name, which he learned by watching Japanese cartoons as a young boy.
He switched on his laptop, showing a talk with lecturers and students of a Multimedia University.
He then repeatedly corrects the pronunciation for the word "Asperger's" with a slight American tilt as his mother, Hidayati Basri, watches on fondly.
During the interview, the 22-year-old multimedia student would suddenly jump from his chair and whoop excitedly. Hidayati assures her son's antics are normal, showing that he associates certain phrases or words.
Despite his condition, Hazim has managed to teach himself to read and write in Japanese fluently. He even read out loud a movie with Japanese subtitles to show his language proficiency.
On his ambition, he replied, "I plan to take a diploma in languages at Universiti Malaya".
Hidayati explained that initially he was misdiagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
"I noticed that he was very active, and eventually sought an opinion from another doctor on his condition. He could read and write well, which meant he could focus," she said, adding as a caregiver, sacrifices such as time and money meant for eldest's therapy.
"At primary school, a teacher's aid would attend to Hazim's need. They act as his eyes and ears. They also actively include teachers and students to understand more Asperger's. "Although it cost us RM600 a month to have a teacher from The National Autism Society of Malaysia, it helped him to excel.
"The main problem is if there's no teacher's aid, there'll be a big problem (in terms of long learning and interacting with their environment)," the bank officer lamented.
Although Hazim's journey and other autistic children are highlighted, there is no data available on the prevalence of autism in Malaysia, noted the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) in a 2015 paper titled "Living with Autism in Malaysia".
The study however stated that the Health Ministry had identified children between 18 to 26 months showed a rate of 1.6 in 1,000 children, or approximately 1 in 62,512 has autism.
It also specified four main challenges that are faced by an autistic individual which includes shortage of qualified caregivers, limited awareness among medical practitioners, and limited support, resulting undue pressure on parents while raising them.
Addressing the situation, three recommendations were made to address it — training and awareness for a wider audience, provide more comprehensive forms of care, and create flexible financial assistance.
These findings resonated with Hazim and Hidayati's journey, as both strive to find ways for the eldest of four to be independent.
"However, I'm hopeful that he can be a force for good and be independent given the support and environment," she said.