Autism Isn’t a Tragedy, Ignorance Is

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference – not an illness or a punishment.  It affects how a child’s brain learns to communicate, socialize and behave.  Contrary to myths, autism is not contagious and not caused by bad parenting, evil eye or “spritual factors”. 

As one Malaysian autism expert puts it -

“Autism is not contagious. Society plays an important role in assisting the development of an autistic child.”. 

In fact, families and doctors know that autism simply means the brain works differently, and that with understanding and support, autistic children can thrive.

Autism Spectrum: Many Ways, Many Faces

Autism is a spectrum.  Some children may be non-verbal and need daily support; others speak well but have trouble with social cues or sensory overload.  No two children are the same. 

“Autism can be mild or severe. Each child with autism does not have the exact same problems,”

- explains a Sabah autism advocate. 

One child might avoid eye contact and rock back and forth, another might talk about trains nonstop and insist on routines.  This diversity is normal.  In fact, many autistic children have average or above-average intelligence and unique talents – the issue is simply how to help each child use them.  Malaysian educators note that expecting “all autistic children to look or act the same” will only make us miss chances to help them thrive.

Early Signs in Toddlers (0–6 years)

Parents and caregivers should watch for red flags in infants and toddlers.

Common signs include:

Communication delays:

No babbling or pointing by 12–18 months, no single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months. (If a child loses language or social skills at any age, seek help immediately.)

Poor social interaction: 

Little eye contact or facial expression. Not responding to name, not smiling back or waving bye by age 1.

Repetitive behaviors: 

Hand-flapping, rocking, insistence on sameness (getting upset by small changes), or intense interest in parts of objects.

Unusual play or fixations: 

Lining up toys, spinning wheels obsessively, or focusing on one topic beyond the child’s age.

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In Malaysia, health clinics use the M-CHAT screening questionnaire at 18 and 36 months to flag possible autism. But parents know their child best.  If you notice persistent delays or odd behaviors, mention it at the child check-up. Early diagnosis opens the door to support.  As a Malaysian psychologist advises -

“Parents must refer to a specialist for diagnosis, and… send their child diagnosed with ASD to the recommended programmes”.

Children with ASD often have “deficiencies in social interaction and communication, including repetitive stereotypical behaviours” – these are exactly what doctors look for.

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Autism in Malaysia Today

Awareness is growing, and so are the numbers.  In 2010 the Health Ministry estimated about 1 in 600 Malaysian children was on the spectrum.  (A 2005 MOH survey found 1 in 625.)  As screening improves, more children are identified: official records show cases registered with social services jumped from 6,991 in 2013 to 53,323 in 2023 – a 663% increase.  This rise reflects both higher prevalence and better detection.

However, diagnosis still often comes late – about half of Malaysian autistic kids aren’t identified until after age 5 – partly due to low public awareness and limited specialists.  This makes educating parents and doctors even more urgent.  We must replace silence with knowledge.

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Getting Help: Diagnosis and Treatment

If autism is suspected, the child is usually referred to a pediatrician or child psychiatrist for a full evaluation.  In major cities, government hospitals have child development clinics; otherwise, private therapists or NGOs often do initial screening.  There is no medical “cure” for autism – it is a lifelong condition – but early intervention makes a huge difference. 

As Jochebed Isaacs (Early Autism Project Malaysia) explains -

"Autism is “treatable” in that therapies can help children learn needed skills, even though it cannot be “totally cured”."

Treatment in Malaysia is multi-disciplinary.  Core therapies include speech therapy, occupational therapy (OT), and behavioural interventions (e.g. Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA). 

Many children also benefit from play-based therapies, music, art and social skills groups.  As Dr. R. Geetha of NASOM lists, “children with ASD need several therapy programmes such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, early intervention program, play-based therapy, drama and arts, behavioural therapy and social skills training”. 

Government health clinics and hospitals provide some services, but they are often stretched thin. For example, private clinics may charge hundreds of ringgit per hour for therapy; one special needs advocate notes most families cannot afford this without help.

On the positive side, Malaysia has begun expanding public support.  The Budget 2024 and 2025 introduced new initiatives: 11 more early intervention PERMATA Kurnia centres (in every state including Sabah/Sarawak), two new special education schools (Tuaran, Sabah and Johor Bahru) – the latter the first in Malaysia focusing entirely on autism. 

The government also raised the personal tax relief for autism therapy expenses from RM4,000 to RM6,000, and offers monthly allowances for disabled children. 

Still, parents call for more: they want stable government-funded therapy slots and tax breaks for special education, as one parent-businessman said -

“Speech and occupational therapies are especially crucial. I would like to see these services become a norm… rather than relying on parents to seek [them] independently”.

Support programs: 

Several NGOs and agencies provide autism services.  The National Autism Society Malaysia (NASOM) – founded by parents in 1987 – runs multiple centres nationwide with early intervention classes, day programs and even vocational training.  Its programs teach life skills and prepare teens for work. 

Another is the Genius Kurnia (formerly Permata Kurnia) programme run by the Ministry of Education – an early intervention preschool for autistic children, ensuring “no child is left behind in their education”. 

Private centres like the Early Autism Project (ABA therapy) and IDEAS Autism Centre offer affordable therapies.  Rehabilitation organisations (like MARF, Bakti-MIND, Yayasan Chow Kit and local Muslim or community NGOs) also run workshops, parent support groups and training for teachers and therapists.

Parents and families can register their child as OKU (disabled) to access welfare aids.  Schools are increasingly providing special education classes or teacher’s aides.  Despite improvements, many calls remain for greater inclusion – for example, funding for OKU aids in all schools and more public awareness.

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Voices from Malaysia

The Malaysian autism community speaks with united urgency.  Dr. R. Geetha (psychologist, NASOM Setia Alam) reminds parents to trust specialists and be patient -

“Parents must refer to a specialist for diagnosis… and send their child… to the recommended programmes”. 

She notes that -

"Children with autism can improve “basic life skills, emotional behaviour, communication, social skills, learning and play skills” with continuous guidance." 

Geetha stresses that -

"even typical classmates need help understanding differences: true inclusion “requires a lot of understanding” and trained guidance so that peers learn to accept and include children with ASD."

Jochebed Isaacs of Early Autism Project Malaysia points out that stigma still hinders help.  She recalls families being -

“Fearful to tell their own extended family or schools that their child has autism,”

worried that others won’t understand.  This secrecy only delays support. Isaacs urges acceptance -

“Children with autism require special attention but have great potential to learn… There is no limit to what they can achieve”.

Parents share courage and hope.  In Sabah, father Alan Tang described the fear of an early autism diagnosis.  He worried after his daughter Samantha didn’t speak or play like other kids.  But with advice from advocates (like Jacqueline Lingham) and their own research, his family learned how to help.  Alan now emphasizes patience -

“Every little effort we put in to Samantha was a big and very important thing for us”. 

He says the most important gifts are -

“care, concern and above all, the love coming from both mother and father. Nothing is impossible”.

These Malaysian voices echo a common theme: knowledge and love are the antidote to stigma.  As one advocate reminds us -

“Autism is not contagious… Society plays an important role in assisting [autistic children’s] development”. 

Instead of fear, communities are learning to open their hearts.

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Culture, Beliefs and Misunderstandings

Malaysia’s multicultural society brings diverse beliefs.  In Malay society, some may see disabilities as fate or test from Allah; in Chinese-Malaysian culture, there are old ideas of karma or ancestral “virtue”; some Indian-Malaysians hold similar notions of destiny.  These beliefs can unfortunately delay acceptance of autism as a medical condition. 

Thankfully, many religious and community leaders are speaking up.  In the Islamic tradition, children are “a blessing and a trust from Allah” – autism is viewed as part of a person’s design, not a curse or punishment. 

Islamic teachings emphasize compassion.  One guide notes Islam -

“does not view disability as a punishment or a curse; rather, it is seen as part of Allah’s divine plan”. 

The Prophet Muhammad himself “was known to show affection towards [people] with special needs and to treat them with patience and understanding”. 

Such messages, now echoed by imams and Buddhist monks alike, remind Malaysians of all backgrounds that children with autism deserve love and support – just like any other child.

Community educators and NGOs also hold talks to correct misunderstandings.  For example, some still mistakenly believe autistic children lack any feelings or potential; experts rebut that -

“many children with autism have average or above-average intelligence, and with the proper support, they can grow into confident, capable adults”.

In short, every culture in Malaysia has champions calling to replace ignorance with understanding, so that stigma – not autism itself – becomes history.

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Breaking Stigma and Building Inclusion

Stigma keeps children out of school and society.  To fix this, Malaysian communities must act.  Schools can implement autism-friendly classrooms and train teachers.  Parents of non-autistic children can learn how to include autistic peers – even small steps like explaining a child’s condition or making playdates can build empathy. 

One NASOM psychologist says “social acceptance is the most important component of creating an inclusive and ASD-friendly community”.  Awareness campaigns, conferences and social media (for example, podcasts and Facebook support groups) are helping Malaysians realize that inclusion benefits everyone.

Already, the country is moving forward: budget plans for new autism centres, growing support groups in rural areas, and online resources in multiple languages.  Everyday Malaysians can contribute – by learning the signs, talking openly about autism, and treating autistic people with the same respect as anyone else.

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Advice for Families and Communities

Learn the signs and act early. If your child isn’t meeting milestones, seek advice. Early intervention (speech, OT, social training) greatly improves outcomes.

Trust professionals and use available resources. See pediatricians, therapists and teachers for guidance. Use organisations like NASOM, MARF, Genius/Permata Kurnia, Early Autism Project, etc. No one should navigate this alone.

Educate others. Explain autism gently to family and neighbors. Include autistic kids in play and school activities. Typical classmates need to learn how to interact – it’s beneficial for everyone. Studies and experts agree that learning together helps autistic children build skills while teaching empathy to others.

Stay positive and patient. Celebrate small steps. As one Sabahan father says, every tiny improvement is “a big and very important thing”. Encourage your child’s interests and strengths. Never lose hope – “there is no limit to what they can achieve”.

Educators and community members can help by making learning environments more flexible: visual schedules, quiet spaces and routine-friendly classrooms benefit many autistic learners.  Malaysians of faith can remember the compassion their religions teach.  Government and employers should enforce anti-discrimination laws and provide workplace accommodations.  All these efforts together make society more welcoming.

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Moving Forward Together

Autism is not a tragedy – misunderstanding is. Malaysian families with autistic children are strong, and our society is slowly catching up to support them. 

The task is urgent: we must fight stigma, promote early screening, and foster acceptance in every village, school and workplace.  As one expert reminds us, children with autism simply need “care, concern and above all, love”. 

Let’s answer that call. By speaking up, learning the facts, and including autistic children in our communities, we can ensure they are seen for their abilities.  Only then can we truly say: autism isn’t a tragedy – ignorance is.

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References: Malaysian health and autism organizations; Malaysian media reports; statements from Malaysian experts, NGOs and families, among others.