Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and understanding and that includes people with special needs.?The least we can do is make an effort to understand the condition they're battling.?The following incident that took place in Chandigarh is a stark example of how our ignorance can affect someone.
According to Indian Express, a man with Asperger's syndrome was roughed up by a policeman in the Union Territory when he went out for a walk.
Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder on the autism spectrum; it affects a person's ability to socialise and communicate with others. Usually, people who have this condition don't do well in social situations.?
In this case, the unnamed 26-year-old man, a lab technician by profession, had to reportedly step out of his two-room apartment due to special needs. His doctor, Dr Simmi Warraich explained exactly this to the police since he broke down for two hours at the station and only calmed down after she spent two hours consoling him.?
Dr Warraich said, ¡°Usually, the sector policemen recognise this 26-year-old with Asperger¡¯s. But there was a new policeman in the locality. He saw him out of his house without a mask, called him and spoke to him angrily. Then he slapped him. This young man already has a mistrust of the police. And due to his condition, he argued with the policemen forcefully for hitting him. He has been agitated for two days now."
The psychiatrist also said that even though she does not blame the policeman, this is a topic of concern and speaks volumes about how there is a need to sensitise people towards such individuals, especially the police.
She also added, ¡°He has a Labrador who really helps him. He takes him out for a walk.?He is an intelligent young man. He gets upset with inconsistencies and wrongs. For example, some of his professors gave him poor marks in practicals as they saw him as confrontational, whereas he was just being truthful in asking about things he thought were wrong. In his theory exam, he did very well, and the professors realised their mistake. But his belief that they were treating him unfairly was reinforced. With support, he has almost graduated, but this incident has been dampening."
The psychiatrist explained how the lockdown is even more difficult for people with disabilities as they feel suffocated being in one place.
She added, ¡°Many like him get ill-treated by the police. Not that the police is unkind, but lack of knowledge makes them see the behaviour of such persons as impudence, when it is not."
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