Rajesh Dadi is a child different from others. To express his disapproval of something or someone, he becomes agitated and, at times, takes to screaming to give vent to his anxiety due to apparent sensory overload and an inability to self-regulate.
The nine-year-old boy is a 44th-grade student at Kankipadu Government Primary School and is currently undergoing training in a junior Python coding course at a Bhavita Centre attached to the school. Bhavita Centres are established by the Central government to promote inclusive education.
Rajesh has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and is recognised for his exceptionally high Intelligence Quotient (IQ). “We are now preparing him for the Mensa IQ test that evaluates various cognitive abilities, including logical reasoning, spatial awareness and verbal comprehension and we are sure he will pass the test with flying colours,” says Ram Kamal, Senior Advisor to School Education Department on Inclusive Education.
Majority of the people with ASD are born with high IQ but because of their behavioural traits and tantrums, family members, teachers and others fail to recognise their unique hidden talent, says Mr. Kamal, adding: “If you can analyse the inborn gift of a child with autism, they can be groomed into wonder kids.” He says the proposed 125 Autism Support Centres across the State will uncover many hidden gems in society.
The State has been granted funds to the tune of ₹3,468.75 lakh under the PM SHRI component to establish 125 autism centres for the 2025-26 academic year and provide educational support to children with autism.
Andhra Pradesh has 74,642 Children with Special Needs (CwSN) across 21 recognised disabilities studying in Classes 1 to 12 in Government and Government-aided schools. “They include children with locomotor disabilities, cerebral palsy, and neurological dsabilities and need physiotherapy to improve mobility and physical development. Those with intellectual disabilities and mental illness require behavioural therapy, support, and structured programs to enhance their learning and social skills,” says Samagra Shiksha wing’s State Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao. Providing these essential services will improve education, inclusivity, and overall development of Children with Special Needs, he adds.
Bhavitha Centres, established by the Samagra Shiksha in 2011-12 in the the undivided Andhra Pradesh provide school readiness programmess for CwSN, ensuring they join age-appropriate classes as per the RTE Act, 2009. They also offer special training in a day care mode, along with therapeutic, referral, and other essential services, making support easily accessible to parents.
The proposed autism centres in the State will create awareness among the public about early identification, screening, assessment, and intervention to support children with ASD. They will provide training to parents and students with ASD to support and empower them for effective learning, serve as local awareness hubs for ASD, Intellectual Disability (ID), and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) and conduct regular screenings for young children to enable early identification and intervention.
“With proper evaluation, assessment, and rehabilitation, we can help children with autism integrate into society,” says Mr. Rao.
Published – March 23, 2025 07:42 pm IST
