Getting an autistic child to pay attention to studies can be a daunting task for parents and teachers.
However, research has suggested that music can be a powerful medium to educate autistic children of various communication and social skills that they usually find hard to cope with.
Recognising the need to create content which can educate and help nurture talent of autistic children here in the UAE, film director and head of Client Advertising Smita Prabhakar is working on music videos and an album for children with autism.
The project called, ?Together We Can? is about initiating an awareness campaign for the children suffering from autism and to support them with educational infrastructure and a reason to live.
?It is very painful for parents who have children with autism. They cannot always take their kids outside because the awareness about autism is so little. But in reality, children with autism are extremely talented in some art form or the other. Especially music and dance,? said Prabhakar.
The video, which will be released tentatively in March 2013, will feature autistic children from four schools in the UAE and India. Children from Manzil in Sharjah; Little Angels in Mumbai, India; and the Early Intervention Medical Centre in Dubai will be featured in the video, she said.
The video would be shot including these children in the story line, which would reflect on the incredible achievements and unique talents of the children afflicted with this condition and how they could be helped further to get into the mainstream world. The album is aimed at inspiring children in general.
The director stated that music is a universal language. Good music goes beyond the boundaries and languages. ?When something is presented to autistic children through a medium like music, they understand and learn much better,? said Prabhakar.
She added: ?According to research, inventors like Thomas Edison, Graham Bell, Leonardo Da Vinci and Pablo Picasso have shown high traces of autism. People must understand that these children are extremely talented and they have the ability to excel in every field that they are in,? said Prabhakar.
?The purpose of the video is to inspire autistic child as well as their parents. Since the video will be featuring autistic kids, we are looking to portray the talents of the child,? she added.
The video will be available in DVD format and will be released on popular media as well.
