Music helps autistic teenager overcome condition

Dubai: Children with learning disabilities and special needs can excel in their chosen fields with the right backing and support, said the father of an autistic boy who plans to hold a carnatic vocal concert next week.

Sukesh Kuttan, 17, from India was diagnosed with autism around the age of four. He started humming songs at an early age. Despite not being able to communicate properly, Sukesh started singing and developed into a talented musician, said his father.

"Back home when children are not very normal they are not given much attention but here he has received a lot of support. He plays the tabla and mrindangam [drums] and the keyboard," said his father, K.K. Kuttan.

Sukesh attends the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs, the Sruthi Music and Dance Institute and is a member of the Special Needs Family (SNF) support group.

"Music is his everything. He needs only to listen to a song once or twice before he can reproduce it exactly, in any language. He performed a song in Japanese once. He's taken part in competitions with normal kids and won. He also performs with his younger brother," said Kuttan.

Independent

Safia Bari, director of the Special Needs Family support group, said she was very proud of Sukesh's achievements.

"The aim of our group is to make autistic children as independent as possible because the biggest worry for parents, the big question mark is what will happen if we are not here tomorrow," said Bari.

"We want the children to go as far as possible. Singing makes him so happy. I hope he can make a career out of it. He cannot interact with society or make eye contact with people, so if he is singing then he can communicate with others in his way," she added.

Sukesh will be performing at the Indian Consulate Auditorium in Dubai at 7pm on February 23.