Heading: “Give Them Opportunity and They Will Thrive”: Autism Centre in Haatso Calls for Inclusion and Support

HAATSO, ACCRA — At the Autism Awareness Care Training Centre in Haatso, a simple message is being repeated: children on the autism spectrum are not a burden. With the right support, they can learn, create, and contribute just like any other child.

Speaking at an arts and skills exhibition organized by the centre on Tuesday, Coordinator Joseph Lami urged society to see autistic people differently.

“We need to let people know that just because somebody is autistic, it doesn’t mean that the person cannot thrive,” Lami said. “It all depends on the kind of opportunity that you give them.”

Drawing examples from history and modern society, he pointed to figures like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Mozart, and Elon Musk — all widely believed to have been on the spectrum — as proof of what is possible when potential is nurtured.

“These people we think are very special… were also on the autism spectrum. And why did they thrive? It is because they were given the opportunity.”

22 Learners, One Mission

The Haatso-based centre currently caters to 22 learners — 18 males and 4 females. It operates like a day school, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.

Beyond training children, the centre also focuses on autism awareness and training for parents and teachers on how to care for and educate autistic children.

Coordinator Abdey Kudrat said the exhibition was meant to showcase the skills and products made by learners, and to change public perception.

“Today we are here to display the works of our autistic children… to show the world that they can also do something,” he said. “We want people to stop seeing them as a problem.”

Call for Government and Public Support

Both coordinators made a direct appeal to government and philanthropists.

Kudrat highlighted the daily struggles of parents, many of whom cannot work because of the intensive care their children require. He called for government support for parents, especially those outside Accra, and for inclusive education units in every community so autistic children do not have to travel far to access services.

“The burden is on the parents. We are pleading with government to support the parents,” he said. “Every community should have a special unit so that children don’t have to travel all the way to Accra.”

The centre, which relies on donations, said it is open to partnerships with individuals, corporate bodies, and agencies willing to support autism awareness and training in Ghana.

“We are not a profit-making organization. We need the support of philanthropists,” Kudrat added.

A Message of Hope

For Lami, the core of the advocacy is simple: inclusion.

“We are all social beings. We learn as social beings. So autistic children also need to be part of the community, part of the school system, part of society.”

As visitors toured the exhibition and viewed the learners’ artwork and crafts, the message from Haatso was clear — with opportunity, understanding, and support, autistic children can thrive.

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