Give urgent attention to challenges facing children with ASD in Ghana …Advocate calls

 A passionate advocate for children with autism, Ms Jessica Datsa, is calling for urgent attention to the challenges facing children with Autism Spectrum Disor­der (ASD) in Ghana.

According to her, the lack of specific policies, societal stigma, and inadequate sup­port systems are major bar­riers to the proper education and development of children on the spectrum.

Ms Datsa is the Co-Found­er and Executive Director of iElevate, a non-governmental organisation focused on ad­vocacy for learners in school including people with special needs.

It is also involved in training of teachers, corpo­rate institutions and groups, awareness creation, public education, research and philanthropic work for special needs community.

“Autism is a spectrum dis­order, which means it affects children in varying degrees, from mild to profound,” Ms Datsa explains adding that it is a neurological and develop­mental disorder that impacts communication, behaviour, and social interaction.

She describes how children with autism often show signs such as failure to respond to their names, lack of eye con­tact, repetitive behaviours, hyperactivity, and learning difficulties.

Some children are verbal while others are non-verbal, with many suffering from anx­iety, seizures, or other health conditions, adding that these children, need love, atten­tion, and specially tailored education to thrive.

Ms Datsa stresses the cru­cial role of parents and teach­ers in supporting children with ASD, thereby encouraging par­ents to be active participants in their children’s therapy and not isolate them from society.

In the classroom, she says, teachers must be aware of triggers such as noise and strong scents, which can lead to sensory overload and anxie­ty in autistic children.

“It’s the teacher’s duty to create a calm and safe envi­ronment. Most importantly, they need training in how to manage and teach children with ASD,” she added.

She also highlighted the lack of government support. “All autism schools in Ghana are privately owned. The government does not have a single school specifically for children with autism.

According to the Co-Founder and Executive Di­rector of iElevate, Ghana has an Inclusive Education Policy of 2015, but it is too broad and that Ghana needs a dedi­cated policy for autism.

Ms Datsa said many teach­ers in inclusive schools are not adequately trained to handle children with au­tism, which leads to further neglect.

 By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu