Autism, a pervasive neuro-development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and restricted and re
Autism, a pervasive neuro-development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and restricted and repetitive behavior, can be, to say the least, life changing for both victims and parents. It is capable of disrupting every part of one’s life: relationships, physical health, emotional health, and other life goals.
Little wonder foremost financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank is taking on this challenging disorder and using its esteemed platform to not only create the much needed awareness about Autism, but to also bridge the gap between victims, parents, caregivers, health care professionals and the government, in a bid to finding a melting point to manage this special challenge via a sustainable support system and empowerment through which children living with autism can thrive and consequently add value to the society.
L-R; Mrs. Dotun Akande, Advance Certified Autism Specialist, Mrs Joyce Onafowokan, Early Intervention Professional and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Social Devt, Oyinade Adegite, Head of Comm & Ext Affairs, GTBank, Camille Proctor, Exec. Director, The Colour of Autism Foundation, USA and Dr. Anna Lamikanra, Exec. Director, Blazing Trails International Center at the Press Conference for the 8th Annual Autism programme held at GTBank’s Head Office on Monday 16th July 2018
This, the bank hopes to achieve via its Annual Autism Programme. With its 8th edition set to hold between Tuesday, July 17th to Monday July 23rd, the year’s edition promises to be life changing and enriching as participants will be equipped with the much needed tools to help meet the unique needs of children living with Autism.
The programme kicks off with a conference which has been aptly tagged ‘Raising a child with Autism: The Role of Family and the Community’, and will hold on Tuesday July 17th and Wednesday July 18th at the Shell Hall Muson Centre. There will be sessions, presentations and panel discussions on each of the days by health care experts, medical practitioners, caregivers, proprietors of special need centers, health providers and even parents, all sharing from their wealth of knowledge to concerned members of the public.
Some of the facilitators for the conference which is absolutely free include Mrs Joyce Onafowokan, an early intervention professional and a Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Social Development; Mrs Dotun Akande, Advance Certified Autism Specialist and Director, Patrick Speech and Languages Centre, Lagos; Camille Proctor, ED, Color of Autism Foundation; Dr Maimuna Khadijat, psychiatrist medical director, Pinnacle Medical Services; Dr Doris Izuwah, Pediatrician and Clinical Director, OLGHF, Abuja, Dr Noimot Balogun a public health communication expert and several others.
L-R; Dr Funmi Omotayo, Dr Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, Tolulope Onipede, Head of CSR Unit GTBank, Mrs. Dotun Akande, Dr Agboola Paul, Abisoye Balogun of GTBank and Dr Grace Ojeamiren-Bamigboye at the Press conference
The medical experts aren’t just going to be dishing out information alone, as they will also be enriched via a specialized session/symposium on Wednesday July 18th. The theme of the symposium is ‘Austism across life span management, research and intervention skills development in Nigeria. The medical experts putting up a presentation at the symposium include, Dr Doris Izuwah, Paediatrician and Clinical Director, OLGHF, Abuja; Dr Muyideen Bakare, Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of Child & Adolescent unit, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu and Dr Yewande Oshodi, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, CMULI, Luth, Lagos.
And between Thursday July 19th and Monday July 23rd, there would be a one-on-one consultation/behavioral clinic for children and adults which will hold at the Digital Village, Alausa between 10 am and 5pm. Parents with autistic children will have the opportunity to see specialists for assessments and follow up. However appointment booking will be required on the bank’s website. The consultation sessions will include; Speech Therapy, Parent Counseling, Clinical Behaviour, Behaviour Analysis, Occupational Therapy, Audiology and Developmental Psychiatry.
It is instructive to note 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.
GT Bank via the Orange Ribbon Initiative continues to drive the conversation around Autism via partnership with resourceful organizations such as the Patrick Speech and languages Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta and ASD specialists form The US and the UK.
