Experts call for lifelong autism care beyond early diagnosis Hyderabad conference
Hyderabad, July 12 (TNT) : Autism care should not end with early diagnosis but must extend throughout an individual’s life, experts said at an international conference on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) held in Hyderabad, stressing the need for integrated, family-centred support systems.
The two-day conference, Autism Odyssey 3.0, organised by the Child Development Centre of Rainbow Children’s Hospital on July 11 and 12, brought together more than 1,000 delegates, including national and international experts, clinicians, therapists, educators and policymakers to discuss advances in autism care.
The event was held in collaboration with Marham, the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.
The conference highlighted that autism is a lifelong developmental condition requiring continuous support through adolescence, adulthood and old age.
Experts emphasised the need for coordinated efforts involving healthcare providers, educators, families and policymakers to improve long-term outcomes for autistic individuals.
Internationally acclaimed autism advocate and professor Dr Temple Grandin, the keynote speaker, called for recognising the strengths of autistic individuals and creating environments that promote acceptance, independence and equal opportunities.
Other speakers included Kim Barthel, Dr Sheffali Gulati of AIIMS-New Delhi, Dr Satya Raj of Christian Medical College, Vellore, Dr Pratibha Karanth and Dr Nandita Desouza, who spoke on advances in diagnosis, neuroscience, sensory integration, communication and long-term intervention.
The conference also featured five workshops on evidence-based practices and an Autism Masterclass for paediatricians focusing on early identification, developmental screening and timely referral of children with autism. Scientific sessions covered behavioural management, parent counselling, communication strategies, transition to adulthood, sexuality, independent living and social inclusion.
Conference Convenor Dr Pratima Giri said multidisciplinary collaboration across healthcare, education, vocational services, government agencies and non-governmental organisations was essential to build effective autism care systems.
Dr Ramesh Konanki, Head of Neurosciences at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, stressed the importance of early diagnosis through developmental screening by paediatricians.
The conference concluded with experts calling for a shift from fragmented interventions to integrated, lifelong care models to enable autistic individuals to achieve greater independence and social inclusion.
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