1) What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Please describe. Can it be tested before birth?
Physical and mental damage in a child due to alcohol exposure while in the womb. There is actually no test that can diagnose FAS. For more details you can click the following link: https://www.webmd.com/baby/fetal-alcohol-syndrome
2) How can we identify that a fetus (baby in the womb) is having any deformity by birth?
Many birth defects can be diagnosed before birth with tests. Chromosome problems such as Down syndrome can be diagnosed before birth by looking at cells in the amniotic fluid or from the placenta. Or they can be found by looking at the baby’s DNA in the mother’s blood (noninvasive prenatal screening). These tests are very accurate. Fetal ultrasound during pregnancy can also show the possibility of certain birth defects. But ultrasound is not 100% accurate. Some babies with birth defects may look the same on ultrasound as those without problems. For more details you can click the following link: https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=overview-of-birth-defects-90-P02113
3) Can we find out the reason for Autism before birth? What could be the reason for siblings being autistic?
(i)The reason for autism is not very well clear. However, e.g. mutations in genes associated with autism, exposure to toxic during pregnancy can be related to the cause for autism before birth. The features of autism may not be seen till 2-3 years of age, however the condition may be hidden in the child’s brain. For more details you can click the following link: https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/are-children-born-autism-or-does-it-develop-later
(ii) There is no reason for siblings being autistic. However, siblings of autistic children are more likely to be withdrawn and to have poor social skills. They also fare low socially and emotionally, by various measures, than do siblings of children with intellectual disability or other forms of developmental delay.
4) Is there any medical diagnostics for hyperactive children apart from psychological tests?
No medical test can decide ADHD, unless it is not correlated with clinical observations of behavior of the child. However, the doctors usually check, e.g. blood test for lead levels, blood test for diseases such as thyroid disease, test to measure electrical activity in the brain or CT scan or MRI to check for brain abnormalities. For details you can click the following link: https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-tests-making-assessment
5) What Does ICF stand for?
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). For more details please click the following link: https://www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/
6) What are guidelines for inclusive schools in Covid19?
Currently schools are closed due to lockdown because Covid 19 outbreak. Whenever the government or local authority would decide the schools to open, then it is expected that guidelines will be issued. As a precaution, we need to take extra care for children with developmental disabilities, particularly those who have IntellectualDdisability.
7) How would social distancing be maintained in schools for special children post COVID-19 lockdown?
Please refer to answer of Question 6; we have to wait for the formal guidelines issued in respect of social distancing also.
8) What is the strategy you are following to involve the Unified Partners in your program by keeping in mind that their academic calendar and other activities are different from our calendar?
Of course, there is a need to balance our Unified Sports (US) activities and academic calendar of Unified Schools. The best solution is that the local committees must discuss and develop a US calendar as per the convenience of the schools as per examinations, weather, festivals or any emergencies like lockdown conditions in mind.
