So said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam at a workshop in Hanoi on August 29.
Jointly organised by the ministry, the ASEAN Autism Network andthe Asia - Pacific Development Centre on Disability, the workshopaimed to discuss policies and activities to support autistic children inVietnam, thus helping them integrate into the community.
It also deliberated plans to promote cooperation among ASEAN member nations in the field.
According to Dam, autism is a neural development conditioncharacterised by impaired social interaction and verbal andnon-verbal communication, and by restricted, repetitive orstereotyped behaviour.
Dam said Vietnam sees an increasingnumber of children with autism, adding that autistic people are ableto integrate into the community and make their contributions to societyif their condition is timely discovered and treated in an appropriatemanner.
The workshop is a good chance for parents from manylocalities across Vietnam to share knowledge on autism as well as theirexperience in caring for autistic children.-VNA