Costly therapy troubles parents of autistic kids

Mustaqim Adamrah ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 04/27/2008 12:47 PM  |  Headlines

Dear mother, it hurts me to see you so sad. My brave father, please be strong amid these tumultuous times and open your heart to mother and I. Eight-year-old Tiara Putri Aafiyah read this aloud Saturday at the opening of the Autism Awareness Expo 2008 in the Graha Sucofindo building, South Jakarta.

The expo was the initiative of the Indonesian Autism Foundation.

Tiara was first diagnosed with persuasive developmental disorder -- the symptoms of which can lead to autism -- when she was 2 years old, but recovered by the age of 6, said her father, Bambang Wahyu Wijoyo.

"She didn't respond to her environment or the sound of our voices. She'd watch TV but her eyes would be blank," he told The Jakarta Post.

Bambang said he decided to take Tiara to the doctor. He knew she had to be treated for autism and take medicine every day.

He said it was easy to find autism therapy centers. "The real issue is the cost."

Bambang said a treatment session of one hour could cost Rp 50,000 (US$5.42).

"Ideally, she needed 12 hours of treatment per month. I also had to spend money on doctors and medicine," said Bambang, adding it cost him Rp 800,000 per month for Tiara's treatment.

The dust has now settled for Tiara, but Bambang said her brother Rafii Wijoyo, 2, shows similar symptoms.

"We've chosen to have Rafii treated in a therapy center that charges lower fees," he said.

"I hope someday there will be an autism therapy center that offers low fees because this disorder does not choose its victims. Autism is really a terrible thing for poor people," he said.

Similar to Bambang, actress Ferina, whose 14-year-old son has autism, said she was concerned over the high costs of treatment for autistic children.

"Many parents complain therapy sessions for autistic children are too costly, and they are," she said.

Ferina said she was also concerned over the limited number of schools for children.

"Autistic children not only need therapy and medicine, but also schooling. Unfortunately, many schools reject them," she said.

She said she consequently had to admit her son to a special school for the mentally ill.

Indonesian Autism Foundation chairwoman Meli Budhiman said the country was still unaware of the high rate of autism, high cost of treatment and limited number of schools for autistic children.

She, however, could not provide any data showing the number of autistic patients in the country, nor in the capital.

Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, who attended the expo, promised the government would build autistic therapy centers in state hospitals around the country.

For more information on autism, call the foundation on 021-7971945.

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