Mansur Choudry gave up a career in engineering and retrained in special needs at 50. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and is the Director of Autism Clinic at Special Care Inc. He is also Instructor in the Special Education Department at the University of Central Oklahoma. Here he is in conversation with Isha Fahad, part of the OSW team.
Tell us about your experience of working as the Director of an autism clinic in Oklahoma, USA?
I joined Special Care as an Assistant teacher in 1997 and am now the Director of Autism Clinic.
Special Care is a non- profit organization which provides year-round before and after care for students, ages birth to 21 years of age. Special Care’s philosophy is to nurture all children with and without special needs in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment through education, therapeutic intervention and community acceptance. We create a world where children with special needs and typically developing children recognise abilities, not disabilities, and learn together in high-quality, inclusive environments.We also provide all-day summer and holiday programs for school-aged students. In typical childcare settings, a child would “age out” of their program around 10-12 years of age, when the child could presumably be of age to stay by him/herself. Special Care provides on-site physical, occupational, speech and behaviour therapy to our students. Therapy is critical for children with special needs in order to reach their full potential.
What challenges did you encounter, en-route to becoming a BCBA?
It is always hard when you are trying to go back to school when you are over 50! However the motivation and the will to help the children eases the journey.
Tell us about your work in raising autism awareness in Pakistan?
We started going to Pakistan in around 2002 to help raise awareness among parents and professionals, specifically parents so that they could make informed decisions about the interventions being offered to their child.
You graduated from an engineering school in Lahore, Pakistan? What motivated you to change your profession?
I think my destiny took me from Engineering to MBA and into Special Education. It was not what I intended to do. Long story short, I had to get into Special Education to keep my student status and once I started classes I was hooked.
You are the recipient of the APPNA Award of Excellence and the Autism Award in Oklahoma. Please tell us a bit about both.
Both these organizations recognise the contributions of an individual over the years, his/her efforts and contributions to a field (autism or the community).
What advice do you have for other parents or young students who wish to adopt the same career path as yours?
I would say that you MUST have a clear purpose and inner motivation. I have seen many individuals start this path and then drop out.
In Pakistan and also worldwide, it’s mostly mothers who change their career path for their kids with special needs. What kind of response did you get when you shifted your career from engineering to special needs.
Fathers are still struggling with the acceptance of any change, either for themselves or for their child (special need or not). Society dictates the norm. It is hard for struggling fathers to make a choice otherwise.
What advice you wish you had received as a parent receiving an autism diagnosis for the first time?
You cannot change it. It is better than many other things your child could have. Also that you are the blessed and the chosen one. The struggle will be yours but Allah will provide you the direction assistance and guidance with time, be patient and steadfast. Allah will make you strong and resilient.
What do you say to parents?
Have faith, accept the fact that it is here. Learn about autism and get in touch with a parents forum who already have undergone what you will have to go through. They can guide you through the DO’s and Don’ts.
What do you think are the three greatest challenges for parents of children with autism in Pakistan?
In my experience it is the acceptance by the family, (fathers, grandparents etc.) acceptance by society and our educational system.
What are the most frequently asked questions by parents in the RBT groups you facilitate annually in Pakistan?
The most common questions are:
What do I do now?
Where do I find this?
How do I take the test?
It is not surprising to hear these question that tell me that how much these parents lack confidence in finding out about things themselves and making informed decisions.
What do you think are the specific strengths and challenges for individuals with autism in Pakistani communities?
Mothers like anywhere else have taken the challenge heads on. Our family system is also a strong support system. Although it can be both positive and negative…
What has kept you motivated and inspired along your journey?
This field is not an easy one, yet when you see progress in children, even as small as a first eye contact, or a first word, it is pure happiness. We live for small steps of improvement in these children. And we have seen that every child improves to the best of their ability, consistency, motivation and belief in Allah is important.
What advice would you give to autism professionals and doctors working in this area in Pakistan?
That these parents are desperate and vulnerable. Do not pry on their desperation and vulnerability. If you do not know how to deal with children, tell them you are not the person they need to come to. Direct them to someone who does. We do not want to lose the time. The sooner we start intervention there is more chances of the child’s progress.
What would you like to see happen on autism awareness in Pakistani communities in 10 years?
Since we started in 2002 there are many centers now and many others are coming up. We want to have more qualified and committed BCBAs who are willing to train and help the parents.We want mainstreams schools to start taking children with special needs so that they also can be a part of the school, like any other child.
