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Close Topic OptionsChristopher Sankar & Autism
Christopher Sankar Autism - Trinidad, Tobago / Caribbean - Posted: 28th Feb, 2013 - 6:16pm
Posts: 3 - Views: 684
27-year-old autistic man in desperate need of help
Christopher Sankar & Autism
As I was reading this case, my heart was moved because I know exactly what is like to deal with an autistic person (I have three children in the spectrum). The aunt of this autistic man is doing the best with the little resources she has. There is NO proper resources for people with autism in Trinidad and Tobago and whoever wants to challenge that fact is being very ignorant.
I found the reply from Ministry of the People's Communication Specialist's Odessar Kerr-Layne to be disrespectful, specially the part where he/she says;
QUOTE "On the issue of the care of the violent, naked, caged young man, it is the family's responsibility to ensure that he is fed on time and all his needs are met, so as not to encourage him to go into violent episodes".
If this so called "Specialist" know ANYTHING about autism, he/she would know that violent episodes within the spectrum are common (specially in low functioning cases) so to hint that this man is not properly fed on time and his needs met is a form of disrespect towards the woman who is ensuring of his safety every single day and meeting this man's needs so unless Kerr-Layne walks in this person's shoes then he/she should remain quiet.
QUOTE Leelawatee Ramtahal is pleading with the relevant authorities to help her in providing the best care possible for her 27-year-old autistic nephew Christopher Sankar, who she says has a mind of an eight-year-old but can be very violent.
Ramtahal invited the Sunday Express into her Dookiesingh Street, St Augustine, home last week to see first hand Sankar's condition and to talk about the much needed assistance to care for him.
Sankar, who lives in the porch of the house that is barricaded with pieces of wood, lattice (a decorative fencing) and burglar proofing, stood totally naked, holding onto the burglar proofing which separates him from the livingroom and gazed about the room where the interview was being carried out.
According to Ramtahal she has never asked for assistance in caring for Sankar until recently.
She said in the past, she had rented an apartment at her home to UWI students but because of Sankar, no one wants to rent anymore, so she has lost that income.
Her pension and the disability grant that Sankar gets, she said, is not enough because of the special care he needs, so she has no other choice but to seek further assistance from government.
Ramtahal said she has filled out countless forms at the Ministry of the People as well as Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh's constituency office in Freeport, yet help has been slow in coming. Source 9
Ramtahal invited the Sunday Express into her Dookiesingh Street, St Augustine, home last week to see first hand Sankar's condition and to talk about the much needed assistance to care for him.
Sankar, who lives in the porch of the house that is barricaded with pieces of wood, lattice (a decorative fencing) and burglar proofing, stood totally naked, holding onto the burglar proofing which separates him from the livingroom and gazed about the room where the interview was being carried out.
According to Ramtahal she has never asked for assistance in caring for Sankar until recently.
She said in the past, she had rented an apartment at her home to UWI students but because of Sankar, no one wants to rent anymore, so she has lost that income.
Her pension and the disability grant that Sankar gets, she said, is not enough because of the special care he needs, so she has no other choice but to seek further assistance from government.
Ramtahal said she has filled out countless forms at the Ministry of the People as well as Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh's constituency office in Freeport, yet help has been slow in coming. Source 9
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Autism and Sankar Christopher
When I attended ASTT meetings some of the mothers of autistic children brought up similar problems. Some workers at the Ministry of Social Development treat autism like if it is a past time problem and the parents of autistic children as though they are lazy. In other words, whomever is the front people that handles these things is simply ignorant. You would think that if they are hiring people to deal with MEDICAL or PSYCHOLOGICAL problems that the person would at least have a background in sociology or psychology and not simply a few "O" levels. At the very least these workers should be made to visit Autistic centers to see and learn first hand what Autism is all about. If not, they should be referred to a section of the Ministry where the people are TRAINED to deal with these situations and KNOW what is Autism.
See more cases: TTSpecialKids.com
TOPIC: Christopher Sankar & Autism