As Patna marks World Autism Awareness Day, a troubling paradox emerges: while policies exist to support neurodivergent children, their implementation leaves much to be desired. Families grapple with exorbitant therapy costs, the lack of inclusive educational institutions, and a dearth of multidisciplinary resources.
Patna: As Patna joined the global community in observing World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, attention turned to the wide gap between policy commitments and access to care for neurodivergent children in the state.
The theme for 2026, “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value”, highlighted concerns about high therapy costs, limited inclusive schooling and the shortage of multidisciplinary care centres.Experts said early diagnosis remains the foundation of effective intervention, but modern technological tools are still out of reach for many families. Dr Shams Alam, who has more than 15 years of experience in the field, said AI-assisted screening is an emerging development but is not widely available in routine clinical practice in Patna.“While awareness has improved, diagnosis still largely depends on structured clinical assessment by trained professionals,” he said, adding that AI currently complements but does not replace clinical expertise.Dr Shachi, a specialist in autism intervention, said technology can only make an impact when it is affordable and accessible. She said clinical observation remains the most practical approach in present circumstances.
Experts also pointed to gaps in infrastructure. Dr Shachi said services remain concentrated in urban pockets and are unable to meet the growing demand. Dr Alam said the increase in therapy centres indicates progress, but access remains largely limited to middle- and upper-income groups.Parents also highlighted administrative and educational hurdles. Mukta Mohini, a mother of two autistic children and co-founder of a school for neurodivergent students, said awareness about welfare schemes remains low.“The biggest challenge begins with very low awareness about schemes like the Mukhyamantri Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Chhatra Yojana,” she said, adding that families also face complex documentation processes and a lack of guidance at local offices.Financial constraints are another challenge. With therapy sessions in Patna costing between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, Dr Shachi said balancing quality and affordability is difficult.“Every child deserves access to therapy regardless of financial background,” she said.Experts also noted the lack of support for autistic individuals after the age of 18. Dr Alam said services largely focus on childhood, leaving a major gap in adult transition planning. Dr Shachi added that efforts must now focus on building a structured employment ecosystem.Mohini suggested that the social welfare department establish a district-level support system with a single-window certification process and long-term care to ensure independence and dignity for autistic individuals in adulthood.
