“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle” (Napoleon Hill).

Over the course of a year (February, 2024 to March, 2025), our director, Mr. Emmanuel Ntow Nyarko joined the Anderson Center family for an internship and training.

This is his story:

Certain individuals enter this world destined to become farmers, cultivating the land and nourishing the masses; while others possess an innate aptitude for technology, enabling them to create machines that simplify our lives. Many others possess a calling to provide care for people, such as educators, medical practitioners, and so forth. From the onset of my adult career, I have demonstrated a commitment to caring for individuals. Upon exiting the classroom and desiring to concentrate on special needs, I returned to providing care for individuals with developmental delays, particularly those diagnosed with autism. This is what the world acclaimed Anderson Center for Autism does best in my option.

The pursuit of knowledge and the application of skills led me to journey to the United States of America on four different occasions (2013-2015) solely for the purpose of receiving training that would enable me to support parents who have, for certain reasons, lost faith in their children who are Neurodivergent. After a decade dedicated to practice and contributing to the well-being of others, I determined it was essential to update my knowledge and skills. I wanted something different and more comprehensive.

In my extensive research, I found Anderson Center for Autism (ACA) to be particularly significant. This landmark, marking a hundred years of Life Long Learning (LLL) services for people with  autism, showed great potential in delivering the knowledge and experience I needed. I have no regrets regarding the substantial leap of exposure and the rich, diverse training experience I gained at the Anderson Center for Autism. I wish to emphasize the essential skills and experiences that my one year of practical training has provided me. These are my takeaways:

1. APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) TRAINING

Before participating in this training, I possessed personal beliefs about ABA strategies aimed at assisting individuals with autism. My background as a play therapist, along with various literature I have read that critiques the ABA methodology, may have also contributed to this perception. I believe that ABA has undergone significant evolution over the years.

• The initiation of my 40-hour Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) course led to a profound change in my perception. I acquired knowledge regarding evidence-based practices and methodologies that assist individuals with autism, applicable in diverse educational, industrial, and therapeutic environments.
• Throughout my training experience, I noted the diverse strategies utilized by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) to effectively manage, maintain, improve, and provide overall support for various behaviors. The process of gathering data and utilizing the information to make analytical and informed decisions regarding participants was a major key factor.
• The comprehensive nature of information relies on data collected over time. ACA utilizes various applications to gather data on individuals, whether in their residence or in educational settings, including the Day Hub for adult services. This high-quality system allows for unrestricted access to real-time student information for all significant parties, irrespective of their location.
• Through therapy, instructors, caregivers, and all relevant professionals involved with each individual will provide daily summaries concerning individualized goals and skill sets, in addition to health and safety issues related to behaviors. Different platforms serve to report particular information, including but not limited to GAR, T-log, and Operant.
• Every element of ACA pertinent care content and operations has been systematically integrated into the Relias platform, actively involving staff in each subject matter. This includes among other things: orientation ground rules, autism and overview of different types of disabilities, fire safety, CPR, code of conduct for people with special needs. To confirm staff’s grasp of the material, an 80% passing score is required for the majority of these courses on Relias. ACA offers a face-to-face training schedule, while the Relias platform has proven advantageous for staff in gaining and updating relevant knowledge.

2. CLASSROOM ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES

I acquired expertise in developing inclusive and stimulating educational settings, fostering social engagement, and tailoring instruction to accommodate varied requirements.

The variety of resources at Anderson’s disposal for supporting different skill development and student involvement left me impressed. The classroom resources, outdoor activities, multipurpose gym for physical education and games, music room, gardening opportunities, and art department collectively contribute to the comprehensive development of these individuals. 

Involving participants in nearly all community activities expands the range of support and enhances each student’s potential. Significant resources are required to fulfill this agenda. The interactive board significantly simplifies the teaching and learning process for both educators and students, as a majority of the curriculum has been digitized. If a center in Ghana were to obtain merely 10 percent of these resources, it would accomplish extraordinary outcomes.

Throughout my training program, I participated in three different settings: two classrooms on the main campus and an Adult Day Hub. Each setting presented me with valuable opportunities and experiences. I cultivated a strong admiration for the teachers’ presentations and their initiative in promoting active participation among all individuals.

The curriculum integrates up-to-date knowledge that sometimes caught me off guard. On several occasions, I found it necessary to concentrate on the subject matter to provide support to the students. I particularly enjoyed Group OT and Speech Sessions as well…