Odisha Hosts National Convention on Autism to Mark World Autism Awareness Day

Bhubaneswar: The Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar became the epicenter of discussions on autism awareness and support as it hosted the National Convention on Autism to observe World Autism Awareness Day. The event, organized by the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) in collaboration with the Institute of Health Sciences (IHS), brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, medical experts, and disability rights advocates.

The convention focused on the growing prevalence of autism and the urgent need to enhance support systems for individuals with autism. Dr. Sharanjeet Kaur, Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), highlighted the global shortage of trained professionals in medical rehabilitation. She emphasized the importance of expanding higher education programs in rehabilitation sciences and stressed the promising career prospects in the field. Dr. Kaur reaffirmed RCI’s commitment to collaborating with the Odisha government to strengthen rehabilitation services across the state.

Odisha’s Development Commissioner, Anu Garg, presided over the event and assured continued government support for developing better rehabilitation infrastructure. She acknowledged the significant contributions of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and called for collective action to improve the quality of care and support for individuals with disabilities.

Bratati Harichandan, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, shared her vast experience and advocated for joint initiatives to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities. She stressed the need for increased collaboration among stakeholders to establish inclusive policies and accessible services.

Delivering the welcome address, Professor Satya Mahapatra, Founder of IHS, underscored the rising cases of autism and the necessity of strengthening support structures. He highlighted IHS’s ongoing research and its long-standing efforts in disability rehabilitation, manpower development, and allied health services. With over 26 years of expertise, IHS continues to play a crucial role in enhancing services and opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

The event was coordinated by Niyati Pattnaik, Director of SSEPD, with support from Dr. Subhasmita Sahoo, Assistant Professor of Audiology at IHS. A technical session featured distinguished experts, including Dr. (Prof.) Saroj Arya from the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Secunderabad), Dr. Nirmalya Mukherjee (Kolkata), and Dr. Neha Tiwari (Lucknow). Their discussions emphasized the importance of early detection and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in autism treatment and rehabilitation.

Senior officials from the SSEPD Department, including Jayashree Tripathy (FA–cum-Special Secretary), Deepak Routray (Additional Secretary), Sonia Behera (Additional Secretary), and Bhaskar Raito (Additional Secretary), were also present at the convention.