A 12-year-old boy with an attention deficit could barely be made to enter the stage and take his position during the rehearsals. On the final day, he followed all instructions and gave his best.
A 17-year-old with autism had to continuously fight to keep his focus intact while performing on the stage because the bright lights and sound were distracting him. His effort and performance left his teachers overwhelmed.
Individuals with autism, Down syndrome and attention deficit from three to 30 years were on the stage to an almost full house at Madhusudan Mancha last month.
Around 100 students of Noble Mission performed at their annual function to create “acceptance, love and understanding” for children with special needs, something which still remains lacking in society. “We want to create awareness in society about the abilities of our students. With proper training they can pick up and showcase their abilities and this programme intended to achieve that,” said Lina Bardhan, director of Noble Mission.
Bardhan said that in the audience were not just the parents of their students but people across schools, colleges or individuals known to them, but who are not related to the children.
Some individuals with autism are hypersensitive to light and sound. “It is a challenge for them,” said Bardhan.
The programme made the parents and teachers proud but some of them said that the apathy of society is at times hard to accept.
“Nobody is bothered about our children. Some show a degree of sympathy, but there is hardly any sensitivity,” said a father.
His son with Down syndrome has won awards, nationally and internationally, for classical dance.