School for autistic children in Langkawi to open in December

LANGKAWI, Sept 3 -- Parents of children with autism on the island can breathe a sigh of relief when a special school to be run by the National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) opens here in December.

NASOM chairman Felina Feisol said the absence of an autism-specific learning centre on the island had led to parents sending their children to Alor Setar and other places on the mainland. 

She said Nasom, after looking at various sites on the island, had decided on a three-storey shoplot in Taman Seri Diamond to run the school, which was in line with its objectives and plans.

The school will offer early intervention and vocational programmes while the number of teachers will be determined based on the enrolment, she told Bernama here yesterday.

She had earlier briefed parents of children with autism at a hotel in the island’s capital of Kuah.

The event was also attended by the personal representatives of Langkawi member of parliament, Shukor Bahari and Ayer Hangat state assemblyman Juhari Bulat.

Meanwhile, Nasom’s Langkawi Parents Association representative Mastura Abdul Mutalib said 54  children with autism had been registered with the association's local chapter upon learning that a special school would be opening on the island. 

She said the association was also confident that the number of registrations would increase as they continue to make announcements and inform the local community. 

"Currently there is no special school for autism on the island. Therapy is carried out at the hospital here once every three months.

“If a Nasom school is opened here, parents can send children to the special school which can change their behaviour and also their capabilities" said Mastura, who now sends her seven-year-old son to the Nasom Titiwangsa centre in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA