Addressing Autism And Disabilities: The Bangladesh Story

To that end, the Constitution mandated the formation of the Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW) so that disabled war veterans, abandoned women, orphans and other minority groups could be rehabilitated and receive financial and social support. After a curtailment of resources to the MoSW during the successive autocratic regimes between 1975 and 1991, with the election of the Awami League government in 1996 the MoSW began to formulate policies and programs to support those in need.

Focus On Disabilities

In 1995 a national policy on disability was developed. Subsequently, in 1999 the Awami League government created the semiautonomous National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons (Jatio Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation or JPUF) in 1999. Disability issues received significant impetus through the Bangladesh Persons with Disability Welfare Act 2001 and an inter-ministerial task force in 2001 which helped formulate comprehensive policies and services in the community. It also paved the ground for NGOs to develop innovative strategies for service delivery and the opportunity to conduct research.

Currently the Ministry provides aids, grants and allowances for the elderly, orphans, disabled, victims of violence and natural and industrial disasters. It runs rehabilitation, educational and employment programmes. In addition JPUF provides free therapy and counselling, runs one stop service centres, provides mobility devices hearing aids, and maintains a library of resources, like Braille books, internet access, and develops and engages in information dissemination activities.

Bangladesh is prone to natural calamities such as floods and cyclones. Injuries to people resulting from such calamities leave many with debilitating injuries, increasing the number of disabled every year. In 2010, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief developed the National Disaster Response Plan 2010-2015 which provides an outline by which families living with a disability can receive assistance prior to a natural disaster.

The Plan also provides specific strategies by which to prioritize support for those with disabilities and in collaboration with the Ministry of Social welfare and NGO’s like the Center for Development and Disability (CDD) to produce awareness materials, and step-by-step guides on how to assist them. And all new government buildings, schools and public transportation are required to be accessible to persons with disabilities.

Leading The Way In Autism Awareness

In 2011, the government of Bangladesh made significant impact in addressing the social stigma making the issue of complex disorders like autism a national priority. From 2011-2012 a comprehensive awareness campaign, parent and professional training and a situation analysis was conducted with the help of Autism Speaks and the WHO through the Global Autism Public Health Initiative.

As a result, a unique model to address the challenges for neuro-developmental disabilities was implemented. Bangladesh formed a National Steering Committee for Neurodevelopmental Disorders under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, comprised of 8 relevant ministries, whose activities are guided by an advisory and technical committee composed of experts, parents and other stakeholders. 

The Steering committee is responsible for identifying the challenges and formulating convergent and strategic action plans on NDD that can be implemented based on existing resources. Through this process other ministries who were hitherto unaware of the needs of persons with disabilities, have become better engaged and significantly more supportive. This process has also enabled greater collaboration between the government and NGO’s and INGO’s.
In the last 3 years, using autism as a primary focus, Bangladesh has developed effective international partnerships to raise awareness and build capacity and included disability specific information in teacher training manuals, secondary school text books, and training programs of medical students. Disability has played a significant role in the national budget and national development plan.

Recent Achievements

2013 and 2014 has been a remarkable year for disability efforts in Bangladesh. Government made two laws: National Trust Act for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities 2013 and Disabled Persons Right and Security Act 2013. Two national level survey projects have also been conducted: one was a door to door survey for all disabilities conducted by MOSW and the second, a pilot screening project for developmental disorders in children through the community health clinics.

In addition, JPUF was raised to the level of department. In addition, internationally, Bangladesh has played a leading role in initiating and adopting three international resolutions at the UN and WHO bringing greater focus on the needs of those with autism spectrum disorders. Saima Wazed Hossain, a US licensed school psychologist and the daughter of the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been a global spokesperson for autism and recently has been appointed as a member on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health.

Special Allocation In Budget 2014-15

In the proposed budget for fiscal year 2014-15, special attention has been devoted to people with disabilities. TK 200 million has been allocated to the trust established for people with neuro development disorders and TK 50 million to the trust established for the physically disabled. The Finance Minister assured that the National Foundation for Disabled will be upgraded to a Directorate immediately. The rate and coverage of stipends for insolvent disabled and disabled students will be enhanced to 400,000 and 50,000 respectively. The Minister also proposed increasing tax exemption income threshold for the disabled from TK 0.3 million to TK 0.35 million.