The GUBA (Grow, Unite, Build, Africa) Foundation has championed a spirited campaign against stigmatization of persons especially children living with Autism Syndrome Disorders (ASD).
The neurological condition which affects one in every hundred thousand people worldwide, impairs cognitive function, communication skills, behavioral patterns and social interaction.
While medics have shown remarkable successes in early detection and support with children living with the condition; many continue to face stigma and harmful cultural believes leaving them socially excluded.
In their quest to break this worrisome jinx the GUBA Foundation in partnership with KGL Foundation & KNUST COUNSELING CENTRE hosted an autism awareness seminar at the KNUST MASTERCARD foundation Impact building – KNUST Campus, Kumasi, with the theme ‘CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES’ with neurodiversity.
The event which was free to attend, offered a platform for Service Providers including Child behavior and development specialists, to impart knowledge and offer support to families on the best way to support relatives diagnosed of ASD.
The panelists included DERRICK FRIMPONG Special educator at AL Rayan International School, DR. NETA KRIS ABIANA PARSRAM Award-Winning Journalist (Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group and MS. AKUA AFRIYIE ADDAE Clinical Psychologist, Head of Training and internships at the Counselling Center.
Clinical Psychologist MS. AKUA AFRIYIE ADDAE, advocated for Ghanaians to embrace children with special needs and endeavor to enroll them in special schools to advance their growth and potential.
She insisted that instead of viewing the condition as a sickness, the public should rather appreciate the fact that children with ASD conduct such rigid, repetitive actions and are unable to have normal social interaction because of the difference in the way they receive and process information.”
“Rather than treat them like persons with bad omen; we must know that they are humans just like us. We must know that there is help for children living with Autism, neurological and psychological disorders,” She emphasized.
Ms Pearl Donkor Martey, charity manager for GUBA Foundation highlighted the need for increased advocacy to create an informed society that prioritizes care for children with Autism.
“As global statistics point to the high probability of finding children with autism, we believe Ghanaians need to know about the condition, embrace it and know how to manage and support persons with autism. This is why we have launched this project, the first of which was launched in Accra,” she explained.
Parents and caregivers of autistic children recounted their journey of discovering their children’s condition and the challenges they faced, including misattributing their difficulties to spiritual causes rather than autism.
The campaign continues in churches, schools, community centers and other places of religious and social gatherings with a strong emphasis on extending support to families of persons living with Autistic Syndrome Disorders.
