MELAKA: The number of registered persons with disabilities related to autism under the Social Welfare Department has increased eightfold to 90,459 as of April 30, compared with 2015.
Its director-general, Datuk Che Murad Sayang Ramjan, said the increase is believed to be due to the effectiveness of autism-related awareness programmes and campaigns carried out by the government through cooperation with various parties, including state governments and the National Autism Society of Malaysia.
“It is possible that in 2015, many children were already living with autism, but many people still did not understand or were unaware of what autism was until awareness increased following the implementation of various programmes.
“In addition, the government has established the Bangi Autism Service Centre as a pilot project, which began registration in April and is expected to begin operations this June,” he said, according to Bernama.
He said the Bangi centre provides structured early intervention and multidisciplinary therapy programmes to guide autistic children aged between two and 18 years old.
