Autism in Nepal: Building on the past progress, the country now needs a constructive nationwide system

It is never easy for parents to see their child go through any problem. Yet, for Sunita Maleku Amatya, finding that her 28-month child was autistic was not easy. Amatya is an anesthesiologist at Nepal Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, yet she says being a medical professional did not make her process to make peace with it any easier either. But, rather than waiting for help, she took the initiative to learn about autism and even opened a non-governmental organisation AutismCare Nepal Society ( ACNS ) in 2008 for other parents like her struggling with autism in Nepal.

Following this, she has been a key person in influencing the campaigns about autism in Nepal and in making autism among the 10 classified disabilities here. Talking with Onlinekhabar, Amatya shares her experiences and insights on what autism is, its status in Nepal and all things the country is yet to address. Excerpts: