We have seen movies like Taare Zameen Par and Koi Mil Gaya and loved the central characters of these films. We may know nothing about dyslexia but we could feel the helplessness of Ishaan (Taare Zameen Par) who continued to suffer in his loneliness. He would have lived a miserable life had he not found his compassionate teacher who uncovered his hidden talent for minute observation and colourful drawings. We may not have heard about autism but we could easily share the agony of Rohit (Koi mil gaya). Rohit would have remained a target of rebuke and mockery had he not found the healing touch of Jaadu. These movies are not just stories. They reflect real life situations. They are like an awakening call to sensitize us to the irony of such little minds that happen to be different from the general norms. These different children may have some other qualities which need to be discovered and refined. This makes them achieve excellence in their unique ability. If they get a little more care, a little more attention and a little more patience, they can even compete for school admissions, cope with the studies and get integrated with mainstream majority. Systematic integration provides them with a friendly environment. Slowly their class fellows start understanding and respecting their differences. This constructive developmental process prepares them to survive and progress in the society without any stigma. Their courage, confidence, grit and determination become a motivation for others.rnAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a difficulty which has been misdiagnosed for many years. Autism essentially is difficulty in socialization, communication and rigidity in thinking skills. Dyslexia on other hand is a reading writing difficulty due to which the child faces difficulty in language and Maths skills.rnChildren with learning difficulties/Autism struggle to manage their daily routine. For a long time they were considered to be careless, adamant, irresponsible, and lazy. However it is only recently that their problems have been recognized and understood methodically. An appropriate approach can now be planned and initiated by a professional special educator. Children spend maximum time of their formative years with parents at home and teachers in the school. Their difficulties can be easily detected and managed if parents and teachers are aware of their needs. They can put up a joint effort under professional guidance and evolve a customized strategy for individual application.rnrnCommon difficulties of children with special needs: rn