On Friday, November 4th, 2022 the Director of ENNY Foundation, Mr. Emmanuel Ntow Nyarko held a training session for some parents and the staff of the Eastern Hills Montessori in Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

The training was on the topics, “Identifying the Red Flags”, “Building an Inclusive and Interactive Classroom” and “Supporting Children with Special Needs”. 

He said, “Autism is not about spiritualism or caused by evil spirits; it is a neurodevelopmental condition”.  

The sessions were very interactive as the parents and teachers sought to know more by asking questions and also sharing their views on how best they can support children with special needs at home and at school, respectively.

Mr. Nyarko encouraged teachers and parents to do their best to practice some of the strategies shared during the session to support their students and wards respectively. He encouraged parents to seek early intervention when they notice some of these red flags.

“The joy of seeing the children overcome some of their challenges, no matter how ‘small’, is very rewarding”, he told them.

After the training, some of the trainees shared their reflections.

One of the trainees noted that, “Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder created by differences in the brain, which makes children with autism act differently.”

Another shared, “Symptoms of autism range from communication to behavioural challenges.”

“Autism is NOT a curse, it can happen to anyone”, was another’s reflection.

“Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months”, most of them shared.

However, they all agreed (based on the shared reflections) that:

1. Children on the autism spectrum need to be included in daily activities both at home and at school.
2. Children on the autism spectrum can also learn if lessons are differentiated for them.
3. When working with children on the autism spectrum, patience is required.
4. “Early intervention methods go a long way to help children on the autism spectrum.”