MANAGEMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) and COLLABORATIVE TEAMS

Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition related to the development of the brain that can lead to persistent challenges with socialization, restricted interests, and repeated behaviour. Diagnosis for ASD is used as a basis of DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder) produced by American Psychiatric Association. ASD is observed in children during early years of life and significantly affects an individual’s wellbeing. Autism has remained a mystery for many specialists and researchers  for years. Although the cause of autism is still unknown, a number of strategies have been developed that have helped so many people around the world to live independently. So far there are no authentic facts for ASD prevalence in Pakistan however the statistics is roughly calculated from South Asia that ASD might be as common in Pakistan as somewhere else around the world. In a country like Pakistan where Autism is still a new phenomenon especially in rural areas, we have very restricted qualified human resources to provide a reliable rehabilitation service for a child with ASD and their family. Apart from that due to inadequate awareness exposure, knowledge, and incompetency in diagnosis, these children go undiagnosed and are mishandled.

Factors Affecting Womens Share in Family Inheritance in District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The present study was conducted to find out factors affecting the women’s share in family inheritance in District Peshawar. It was based on the assumption made from Structural Oppression Feminism Theory that inheritance denial to women in Pakistani society is a common phenomena where male economic interest in family inheritance is directly or indirectly supported by patriarchy centered inheritance norms, practices and legal, religious and social institutions. Data for the study were collected through a pretested interview schedule from 384 sampled respondents belonging to both urban and rural areas of District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Findings of the study are based on univariate and bivariate analysis of data. The findings of the study confirmed the denial to women in family inheritance as a common phenomena in the study area. Many respondents did not even consider the denial as a violation of female’s basic human rights. Hence, this was found a common phenomena among all socioeconomic groups. Almost three fourth of the total respondents did not share inheritance with females at all while those who gave full share constituted only 2.3 percent. The rest tried to exploit the females and their in-laws by giving a small piece of land or little amount of money. A number of factors were found to affect the phenomena. Female inheritance denial was found significantly associated with the families where land and property were considered as the critical and fundamental economic resources and assets for males who wanted to keep it within the family to control both the resources and the females. Legal and religious institutions, despite having clear rules and regulations, could not protect female inheritance rights. They were both male dominated and found favoring the males. The females, on their part, could not contact the legal institutions, especially, due to lengthy and cumbersome procedure as well as high social and economic cost on litigation. Similarly, mosque and religious leaders did not motivate the respondents to share inheritance with their females. In fact, the male claim on family inheritance was further strengthened by the prevalence of patriarchy based inheritance norms, practices, unlawful methods and complicated procedures to get the share in inheritance. A significant association of female inheritance rights denial in this regard was also found with the patriarchal based perceptions that emanated females as subordinate, land and property belong to family where male got the primary rights and females silence is a proper behavior in inheritance share cases. The family and social norms in one way or other supported these ideas. Special marriages including exchange, paternal cousins or with the children of inheritance entitled females were also arranged to keep land and property within the family. Helping females and dowry was found as a substitute for inheritance share. The community level social institutions such as family and Jirga also did not play a positive role and supported the male interest. Similarly, media, political parties, NGOs and educational institutions, despite having potential and authority, could not address to the extent it deserved and demanded. The results partially endorsed both the socialist feminism and intersectionality theories of structural feminism. The study concludes that for general understanding and acceptance at community and society level, the female inheritance denial was/is a basic but an ignored issue. At community level, it should be highlighted through mosque, religious leaders and community based organizations. Similarly, the political parties, media and educational institutions should also be used as channels for disseminating relative knowledge for bringing positive change in the attitude of locals over the issue under consideration. The study recommends further that there is no need for further legislation; existing laws should be implemented overwhelmingly. All customary laws and practices having any role in female inheritance denial should be dealt strictly in accordance with the prevalent law.