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As Nepal announces schools for autistic children across all provinces, here’s what to heed

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Nepali government has announced plans to establish autism schools in all seven provinces, a significant commitment to autism education.
  • This initiative follows years of groundwork by a small number of dedicated schools and practitioners who operated with minimal state support.
  • While the plan is welcome, experts and practitioners emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach, drawing on the experiences of existing institutions to ensure success.

The Kathmandu Post reports on a landmark government announcement to establish autism schools across all seven provinces of Nepal, a move that signals a crucial step forward in addressing the educational needs of children with autism. This initiative, coordinated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health and Population, represents one of the most significant government commitments to autism education in the country's history.

We don’t want any credit. Our daughter is autistic, so we just didn’t want other parents to go through what we had to.

— Shekhar DhakalFounder of Nepal Autism School, explaining his motivation.

However, the Post notes that this government plan builds upon the tireless efforts of a small group of dedicated individuals and institutions. For years, organizations like Nepal Autism School and the Special School for Disabled and Rehabilitation Centre (SSDRC) have been providing essential services with little to no state support. Their founders, driven by personal experiences and a deep commitment to advocacy, have created models of care and education that the government can now leverage. Their work demonstrates both the possibility and the necessity of such specialized educational environments.

On April 2, for the first time, the government announced it would build autism schools in all seven provinces.

— AuthorHighlighting the significance of the government's new initiative.

While the government's commitment is lauded, the article emphasizes that the success of this plan hinges on a comprehensive and well-executed strategy. The experiences of existing schools, such as Shekhar Dhakal's Nepal Autism School and Sabita Upreti's SSDRC, offer invaluable insights into the challenges and best practices. These pioneers have navigated the complexities of autism education, from managing challenging behaviors to securing funding and providing therapeutic support. Their journey underscores that the government's plan, while welcome, must be informed by this grassroots expertise to truly meet the needs of children with autism and their families across Nepal.

The people who have been doing this work for 15 years without state support say the plan is welcome—but incomplete.

— AuthorPresenting the perspective of existing autism advocates on the government's plan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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