This world is equally theirs A parent's call for a better world for children with autism

A parent's call for a better world for children with autism

- Kolette Lim

Eleven-year-old Naufal was splashing about with his younger sister Nadine in their condominium pool, occasionally mimicking the Merlion by spouting water out of his mouth.

A woman, an unfamiliar face, then approached him and told him off. Naufal responded by splashing water at her.

Pulling her brother aside, Nadine, nine, explained to the woman that her brother is autistic, but was met with a terse response: "It doesn't matter; he shouldn't be doing that."

In tears, she headed back home and recounted the incident to their father, national football captain Hariss Harun.

The 34-year-old player posted a video about the Feb 4 incident on Instagram later that day, urging the public to have more empathy for those with autism.

In the video, he said that after apologising to the woman, he told her that he tries his best to inculcate good values and etiquette in Naufal, but at times, this is more difficult for children with special needs.

Nonetheless, he added: "My son deserves to be out there; it is a free world. It is no different for him.

"That is why I am sharing this to raise awareness for those with special needs. This world is equally theirs as it is ours."

"TRIAL AND ERROR"

Situations like the one Mr Hariss shared are one of the biggest fears of parents with special needs children, said Mr Chris Lim, who has two boys with autism.

He recalled a recent incident during the school holidays in March when his younger son Gabriel, 12, went to a mall with his friends.

Gabriel was playing with a ball at a shop when it bounced out the door, setting off alarms. "He freaked out and totally panicked. He wasn't sure what to do. He cried, he called me right after and I immediately rushed over," said Mr Lim, 43.

"As a parent with a child with special needs, when instances like this happen, it really scares you," said the art director at a digital agency.