World Autism Awareness Day, an internationally recognized day, is each year on the 2nd of April celebrated. The day is set aside by the United Nation to encourage member states to take measures to raise the awareness of children with autism.
In Ghana, apart from the 2nd April set aside to mark and celebrate the day, the Autism Society of Ghana and their West Africa partner, chose 3 days in April to meet and create a forum where people share experiences, learn about strides made around the world and give parents, caregivers and the general public the opportunity to interact.
At this year’s three days Autism conference which began on 21st and ended on the 23rd of April 2016 held at the British Council, the Deputy Minister for Tourism Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dzifa Gomashie, who is the Life Patron of the Autism Society of Ghana and who the members affectionately call Godmother, seized the opportunity to speak on the stigmatization and discrimination of people living with the condition.
According to her, many people do not understand the condition therefore result to stigmatizing Autism patients.
“Some people have older children on the spectrum whilst others have younger ones. This platform and many other we create are to give families and the caregivers the opportunity to ask nagging questions and get answers from each other. It is a social support network of a sort. Sharing the experiences gives comfort. You realize you are not alone.” She added
Source: GhanaWeb
