Kathmandu, April 16 -- Orange, yellow and brown. Sama Bajracharya fills the canvas with colours, her forehead creased in concentration and a smile playing at her lips.

Sama is 47 and has autism, a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. It took years for Sama's parents to come in terms with and understand her challenges.

It was not until a teacher identified her difficulties - an inability to follow lessons, recognise letters and play with other students. She often withdrew and remained isolated. Her parents took her to a doctor who diagnosed her with autism. Because not much was known about the condition at the time, her parents held onto the hope that she wo...