By Mavis Paintsil, Haatso
The compound of the Autism Awareness Care Training Centre in Haatso was filled with colour, craftwork and quiet determination.
The occasion was an exhibition of skills by children on the autism spectrum and a plea from caregivers for Ghana to do more.
Some of the things they do
The Head of the Programmes at the centre, Mr Grant Abeiku Baiden,said, the event was about reframing the conversation around autism.
“The narrative must change,” Mr Baiden,said. “Just because a child is autistic does not mean the child cannot thrive. What the child needs is opportunity.”
He pointed to history for evidence. Einstein, Newton, Mozart, Elon Musk names, he said, that are often linked to the autism spectrum.
“The reason they thrived was opportunity. Give our children the same, and you will see results.”
A School That Runs Like Any Other
The Head of Programmes, Mr Grant Abeiku Baiden,said the Haatso centre operates daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It currently supports 22 learners 18 males and 4 females,he continued.
But the work extends beyond the classroom.
Parents
The centre trains parents and teachers, and runs public campaigns to demystify autism.
According to him the exhibition was deliberate.
“We brought out the works of our children to show the world that they can also do something,” he said. “We don’t want people to see them as a problem. They have ability.”
Visitors moved past tables of paintings, beadwork and vocational items all made by the learners.
“The Burden Is On Parents”
Behind the optimism, Kudrat painted a grim picture of what families face.
Many parents, he said, cannot keep jobs because of the round-the-clock care autistic children require. The cost and stress, he added, are heavier outside Accra where services are scarce.
“We are pleading with government to support parents,” Kudrat stated. “We need special units in every community. Children should not have to travel all the way to Accra to access training.”
The centre describes itself as a non-profit. It depends on donations and partnerships to stay open.
“We need philanthropists, corporate bodies, and government to come in,” Kudrat said.
The Coordinator of the Centre, Mr Joseph Larmie added that, policy must match compassion. He argued that inclusion in mainstream schools and communities is not charity, but necessity.
“We are social beings. We learn as social beings,” he said. “Autistic children must also be part of the school system, part of the community, part of society.”
As the exhibition ended, parents and guests left with artworks and a message: with support, training and inclusion, autistic children in Ghana will not just cope they will contribute.
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