Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Every year on December 3, 'International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024'. is observed as The day has been celebrated under the supervision of the United Nations since 1992. The 33rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities is going to be celebrated with a pledge to improve and protect the lives of people with physical and mental disabilities around the world. Bangladesh will celebrate the 26th National Disabled Day this yearThis year's theme of the day is 'People with disabilities will lead the way in building an inclusive sustainable future'According to the latest statistics of the Department of Social Services, the total number of disabled people in Bangladesh, including women, men and transgenders, is now 3 million people with special needs registered by the government. 10 percent of people in a country are disabled. It is an international account. In fact, the number of people with disabilities in the country is several times higher than the official estimate. The word disability is an echo of discrimination.

The inner meaning of the word indicates the name of the word. So even if another word is used, maybe the negative view will make that word negative too. Discrimination originates from negative attitudes and alienation from discrimination. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated every year to create awareness and take effective measures so that citizens with disabilities can live with equal rights and dignity like all other citizens in the society. And the day was started with the purpose of showing sympathy and cooperation towards physically imperfect people and respecting their activities. And all kinds of physical, mental and intellectual disabilities are part of human diversity. Therefore, it is very important to include disabled persons in the mainstream of development to ensure their empowerment. This integral part of the society needs to be empowered through proper training and information technology knowledge with all citizen facilities. Only then will disabled people also be able to contribute to national development.

And there is a misconception about disabled people in Bangladesh that disabled people are crazy, mentally retarded, physically inactive, mentally ill or possessed by demons. But it is a neurological problem. This results in the patient having immense difficulty in speaking or understanding, learning new things, and socializing.

These neurological differences in patients with disabilities are not their disabilities. Due to this difference, they constantly face different challenges.

For these people who have different thoughts, government, family should take steps to create a spirit of cooperation in different places. Those with different brains may also follow suicidal paths. Because of this, everyone related to them, including their family, their school teachers, must have an understanding of their behavior and their thinking. A separate environment should be created for them.

> What is disability?

Impaired neurological or neurological problems that impair brain growth. These neurons are highly sensitive due to their biochemical structure. And children with autism cannot tolerate loud noises, bright lights or noisy environments. Such children also have difficulty speaking, making friends, or physical fitness.

In addition, the disability is structural problems of the brain. Children with disabilities have a type of retardation in brain development, as a result of which the child is only absorbed in himself, busy with himself. When a child is self-absorbed, communication with others, socializing, speaking, behaving and learning are inhibited.

Although people know a little about disability recently, this disease was already there. The disease appears to be new because identification has not been possible. A British psychiatrist named Henry Mosley gave the first idea in 1867. He was the first to notice that some children's social and physical behavior and intelligence differed from other children with intellectual disabilities.

> What are the causes of disability?

Children are never responsible for disabilities. It is a congenital problem. The exact cause of disability remains unknown. However, many factors have been attributed to disability through research.

In the early 1990s, researchers discovered that changes on the ``X'' chromosome were more likely to increase the risk for disability. When this change occurs in boys and makes a connection between behavior compatible with different disabilities. A particular gene in which mutations are specifically associated with a disability. which is a type of protein in humans. Because mutations in this gene cause hyper-connectivity between neurons in the brain.

Disruption of normal brain growth occurs early in fetal development, due to abnormalities in genes that control brain growth and the communication between brain cells themselves. ASD is likely caused by genetic and environmental factors.

> Environmental and predisposing factorsMany theorists and researchers have reported that exposure to certain environmental agents, such as alcohol paracetamol and thalidomide used by pregnant women, is associated with potential autism risk factors. Which can cause birth defects. There is also a link between the MMR vaccine and disability. Apart from these reasons, there are many other reasons for becoming disabled.

> Maternal health

Pregnant women with conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, and inflammatory diseases have a higher risk of giving birth to an autistic child. These diseases can damage the fetus and fetal tissue. which is devastating to the developing fetus's nervous system. Congenital viral infections may increase the risk for disability.

Research shows that joblessness, family problems, financial crisis or distressing life events sometimes lead to chronic or spiritual depression. Due to which pregnant women are in depression. which can disrupt the brain development of her unborn baby. Behaviors may continue with disabilities. This is why environmental stressors cause gene-environment interactions. which increases the mother's amniotic testosterone levels. By increasing the brain's ability to recognize patterns and analyze complex systems, it may not alter brain development in the growing fetus by reducing empathy and communication when the baby is born.

> Type of disability

Autism has nothing to do with children. It can be any person. No child is born with autism. There are generally four types of autism.

> Classic disability

Classic autism has significant delays in the development of children's language and vocabulary. Children with these disabilities face social and communication challenges. In addition to abnormal behavior, repetitive behavior may also occur.

> High functional disabilities

This type of autism is known as Asperger syndrome. Extraordinary skills and talents are observed among them. Seen to excel especially in mathematics and music. Besides, different types of talents are observed among them.

> Seventh disabled

Some symptoms are observed in patients with such disabilities. People with this disability may have some difficulty in meeting the standards of public and social approval of the outside world. However, they display extraordinary skills and talents, which enable them to use photographic memory. These disabled persons or children are assessed as gifted.

> Optical impairment

Patients with such disabilities are fully autistic. Children with these disabilities are also usually very knowledgeable and intellectual types. In some cases these disabilities forget their social communicative behavior and their rights, but children with high functioning autism can be taught socially appropriate ways to behave and communicate.
> Actions to prevent disability

As there is no cure for disability, it must be prevented through awareness raising. If someone in the family has a disability or any mental and behavioral problems, the risk of having a disability in the next child is greatly increased. In this case, planned pregnancy is most important. You should be aware of not worrying too much during pregnancy, getting enough sleep, establishing a close relationship with the baby, etc.

Besides, parents of disabled children have to be very patient. They have to be nice and simple.

> Homeopathy:- Parents of disabled children are urged to get their children under the care of a homeo specialist without any delay, homeopathy is a popular treatment method, in this method the medicine is selected based on individual characteristics and complete symptoms. AllThe only way to get back to full health by eliminating signs and symptoms is the aim of homeopathy to cure the disabled patient by addressing the underlying cause and personal sensitivity, the cause of the disease is individualized and the medicine is selected based on the reduction and growth, and to select the right medicineIf possible, by God's grace, it is possible to treat disabled patients with homeopathy.Finally, women are already discriminated against in our society.

Disabled women are affected by double discrimination in that regard. They are also at greater risk of physical, mental, sexual abuse and neglect. Disabled children, women and the elderly need special protection in that regard. Disability has already been mentioned separately in education policy and health policy. As a social responsibility we have to be sincere towards disabled children. People with disabilities should be made skilled in a particular job and interested in work-oriented careers so that no one thinks of them as a burden on the society. Children with disabilities may also have many latent talents. Therefore, the participation of children with disabilities in sports and recreation should be ensured; If disabled children have skills in painting, music, sports or any other subject, they should be given the opportunity to apply them properly.

If disabled children can be cared for properly, they can give a lot to the society. Let's all of us along with the government extend a hand of compassion to disabled children. Then the path of disabled children will be smooth as well as the suffering of the parents will be reduced to a great extent. The right of disabled citizens to live in society with equal rights and dignity as other citizens is a human right recognized by the Constitution.

Implementation of CRPD is essential to eliminate all discrimination against them. In this regard, it is necessary to extend the hand of cooperation of society, state and people. If this large population can be involved in the mainstream of development, they can contribute to national developmentOn the occasion of this day, various programs including meetings and gatherings are taken up at the government and private levels every year. So let us all fulfill our social responsibility towards the disabled people in view of the International and National Day of Disabled Persons-2024 and at the same time build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh.

The writer is a Physician, columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman,Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society