Days ago was the memory of the International Day for Down Syndrome, and tomorrow, April 2 marks the International Day for Autism Awareness, so that these two occasions come at a time when the world is going through a crisis of the emergence of the emerging corona virus that consumes the energies and capabilities of peoples and individuals to the maximum, and to throw its weight on families with children Among those with determination who need in ordinary circumstances care, attention and capabilities of a different type, at a time when psychological and physical pressures increase more in times of crisis, on families and individuals who already suffer from daily problems as a result of specific health, psychological or material conditions.
Perhaps families with children who have "Down syndrome" or "autism" are among those families whose troubles multiply in the current period, as these children usually tend to move and be free from restrictions, at a time when homes must comply with the instructions to prevent the virus.
One of the most important problems facing their families in normal conditions is the problem of individuals with determination, children and adults, constantly fleeing from their homes, as it is common for those who have Down syndrome, or who have a spectrum of autism.
There are many types and forms of psychological pressures experienced by families that have members of determination, among which the most important are their dependence around the clock to follow up and the required supervision on their children to ensure their physical and moral integrity, especially in light of most of them living in housing that is not prepared for the needs and conditions of different types of disabilities.
Experts stress the health and psychological state of the people of determination that their attempts to leave the house are not limited to daylight hours only, but many of them happen during the late night hours in which these individuals suddenly wake up and open the door and leave the house.
Down syndrome can be defined as a type of intellectual disability resulting from a genetic defect that appears in newborns with a set of ethical and clinical features and manifestations that accompany them throughout their lives. Down syndrome is accompanied by varying degrees of mental and physical disability and medical problems. As for autism, it is weak growth and development of the brain or central nervous system, and it is characterized by three specific symptoms that include weakness in social interaction, poor communication, and the presence of restricted and repeated behavioral interests and behavior patterns.
One of the mothers told "Emirates Today" about her constant suffering in finding ways to ensure that her child, who has Down syndrome, does not leave the house alone, stressing that he is always trying to escape from the house regardless of the time or circumstance surrounding him.
She added that the family members surround her 10-year-old child with all kindness and affection, but he always tries to surprise them to leave the house alone, noting that he has been watching them to know where they are hiding the keys to the house and that he has succeeded more than once in finding him. She pointed out that the idea of leaving him alone causes anxiety and tension for all family members, as it is difficult to continue to tighten the doors all the time.
A mother of his child, who also has Down syndrome, complained of having to follow her at every moment for fear of her going out on the street alone, despite the presence of cameras all over the house to follow her movements in order to ensure her safety. The mother said that despite her small size, she was able to place a chair, stand on it and reach to open the door lock.
The mother expressed her concern about her exit not only through the door, but also through the windows of the stone, noting the family’s decision to live in a single-storey house on the ground in anticipation of serious accidents threatening her safety. She added that being able to tighten windows and doors requires an electronic system of closure and needs to open and close with secret codes and numbers, which makes it difficult for all family members of all age groups.
Another woman from the rotten families, a widow and has 3 young teenage girls who have a mental disability who suffers from being responsible for maintaining their safety all the time, especially since her financial conditions do not allow her to seek the help of home or accompany her daughters to cooperate in caring for them.
For his part, the father of a child with autism said that these cases need to live in homes that have been prepared to suit the psychological, physical and mental conditions of individuals of determination. He continued that all the facilities of the house, including windows, ladders, doors, stone, and toilets, must have certain specifications that suit the disability or the type of autism present in the child.
For his part, the psychiatrist Dr. Hussein Al-Masih explained to "Emirates Today" the reasons for these individuals' desire to go out on their own from the house, stressing that what they do is not fleeing the house, and that they are taking actions that they do not realize its consequences. He stressed that this problem suffers from many children who have autism or Down syndrome, as many parents wake up in the morning and do not find the child at home to report to the police and search in hospitals. He continued that that says that the people should take their precautions with great rigor and caution, especially in terms of locking the doors and windows and making sure of the provisions of locking the doors at night, as well as making sure the difficulty of opening windows from the inside.
Christ said that their behavior is not an escape as much as it is an expression of impulsivity in which their behavior is characterized, because when they think of something or wish to do it they do it immediately without thinking about the results or the effect of their behavior. He stated that the size and intensity of impulsive behavior is very high in childhood, and that he is aware of the impact of his actions when he is a little old.
He added that when a child hears a voice or movement abroad, he wants to go out immediately to see what is happening, without realizing that he must be accompanied by anyone, without thinking about the results or consequences of his departure, and he does not count all the matters related to his sudden departure from home.
As for the reason for their sudden awakening during the night, Christ said that there is what is known scientifically as "wandering", which is an attribute associated with them explaining their behavior, as there are children sitting in their places next to his family, while other children, especially children with autism and Down syndrome, are known as "wandering" , Which can be defined by the frequency of movement and the desire to move from one location to another. He added that if these children wake up at night and find no one next to them, they will roam inside the house, then leave the house to roam outside without anyone feeling, and then the child will be lost because he does not know how to return to the house.
Regarding the existence of techniques or methods that parents can use to confront children who devise ways to circumvent and get out on their own from the home, Christ said that if a child reaches a stage where he is observing, innovating and finding a way out, the best possible solution for parents to turn to is to use assistive devices such as alarms Which issues an alert once doors or windows are opened.
He added that this may be marred by some obstacles, especially since these devices require special budgets, which increases the burdens on them especially that the costs of their expenses as a family have a member of determination who is higher than the expenses of any other family.
It is reported that the Ministry of Community Development is currently implementing distance education and training programs for children registered in its centers, continuing to implement its plans to rehabilitate and care for people of determination from various disabilities, including intellectual disabilities.