Interestingly, the 8th edition of the GT Bank Annual autism Conference which kicked off yesterday ended well today with expectations of stakeholders met when they converge at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on Wednesday, July 18th,2018.
Several health care and medical experts, care givers, teachers, proprietors of special need centers, parents and even children living with autism exchanged information about what autism is all about and the role of the family and the community.
Dr funmilola omotayo, an Educational Psychologist delivered paper on meeting the needs of families living with Autism.
Citing an evaluation of the project funded by Big lottery fund UK, she stated that the research evidence proved that appropriate support for parents living with autism reduce family stress.
“Most parents with autistic children abroad tend to shield them due to stigma but awareness will help showcase the strength in autism”
She advocated for training in Austism relate issues and that some of the needs of families living with autism include a mobile lending library where toys and autism materials can be borrowed for hone use, relief hours for parents with autism, advice and information on special education needs, information about provision for children with autism spectrum locally and beyond, siblings support group to reduce their loneliness and embarrassment among peers. And support for parents through EHCP, escort to meetings and DLA support.
While delivering her speech on Community Network, a critical asset in sustainable Autism care, Dr Naimet Abisola Balogun who is a public Health Communication Expert revealed that About one million people suffer autism in Nigeria and that it takes collective effort to manage it.
According to her, it’s an inclusive collaboration which includes Informal community like the religious Space, artisan, youth leaders, the CDC chairmen, NURTW among others.
” We have not engaged the religious space to handle it. Religious Leaders have a role to play. Collaboration with them and the political community will go a long way in helping the cause. Also, Political community and engagement through general meeting ,
Social relations, Health and business
Business community have a vital role to play too.
Other facilitators such as Mrs Notable Adewole and Ms Toni Agboola Odeleye expantiate on the strength of inclusion in the classroom and how to help children when you don’t have access to a speech therapist.
The high point of the GTB 2018 Autism conference was when a poor woman from Ibadan who has an 18 year old daughter with autism expressed her hopelessness in handling her autistic child and channeling a brighter hope for her.
Her sad story elicited so much emotional outburst from everyone but the response of Mrs Adedotun Akande, founder and director of Patric Speech and Languages Centre brought conference to Happy end.
She said the ultimate aim of the GTB Conference Is to be a voice for children and adults living with Autism. Thus, she volunteered to take up the responsibility of the 18 year old girl
Of a truth the GT Bank sponsored 8th Annual Autism Conference was as enlightening as it was emotional. It would be recalled that Annual Autism Programme was born out of the Orange Ribbon Initiative, an initiative created by GT bank in 2009 to support people with developmental disabilities and special needs. Autism was chosen to be their area of focus due to their concern for people who suffer stigmatization and get very little support in the society.