Mum sets up flash mob for Asperger's birthday boy

Flashy: Maynicca Devi hugging her son Sehnjeev after surprising him with a flash mob for his 10th birthday at Subang Parade.

SUBANG JAYA: J. Sehnjeev Kumar grinned from ear to ear when a flash mob surprised him on his birthday.

The excited 10-year-old boy who has Asperger’s could not stop smiling as a group of his friends and family members performed various dance numbers for him at a shopping mall here yesterday.

Sehnjeev later joined the group and started dancing away, sometimes with his favourite wrestling belts in tow.

“I am very excited and happy. Mum kept (it) a surprise,” he said.

Sehnjeev’s mother R. Maynicca Devi said she wanted to do something different for his birthday.

“He loves flash mob and watches it on YouTube. We thought it would be a good idea to surprise him with one for his birthday.” she said.

Asperger’s is a high functioning form of autism.

Those with the condition have repetitive behaviour, difficulties with social communication and interaction, including being withdrawn, face difficulty in understanding gestures and complex words, or how to start or end a conversation.

Maynicca said she wanted Sehnjeev to know that there was nothing he could not achieve despite his condition.

“He is a very imaginative boy and has even taken part in television commercials. He was unable to speak until he was five but that did not stop him,” she said.

Sehnjeev, who now attends a school for special kids, remains good-hearted and kind despite being abused when he was in a national school, Maynicca explained.

“When the children in his previous school bullied him because of his condition, he just smiled and tho­ught they were wrestling with him.

“When people laughed at him, he thought they were laughing with him. More awareness is needed on children with autism and Asperger’s. More programmes should be carried out to help them achieve their true potential,” she added.