A centre for disability studies is likely to be established at Pondicherry University. The Department of Social Work has submitted a proposal to the university in response to a communication from the University Grants Commission to start such a centre.

“A project has been prepared to start the centre. The university has departments of psychology, sociology and social work and it is important to establish such a centre and undertake studies such as problems of children with autism,” university vice-chancellor J.A.K. Tareen said during the inauguration of a two-day International conference on Autism: Social Skills and Creativity on Tuesday.

He said a separate wing would come up for the visually challenged students in the proposed five-storey library annexe building and funds have been earmarked for equipment. One floor would be for children, he added.

Five new departments would come up this year, while another five launched next year, he noted.

Insisting that it was important to find out what children with autism were good at, Usha Ramakrishnan, chairperson, Vidyasagar, Chennai, said, “There are different kinds of intelligence – linguistic, musical, spatial and intra personal. The only difficulty for autistic children is interpersonal intelligence. They have enormous creativity.”

Vice-Chairperson of International Association of Theatre for Autism Parasuram Ramamoorthi said autism movement has moved from being a parent initiative to a professional initiative. “The intelligence of a child should be identified by the age of 10 and there should be work on one-to-one basis from then on,” he said. The conference was organised by the Department of Social Work and Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University. Coordinator of the department G. Ramathirtham and Reader R. Nalini spoke.