A teacher at the Autism Awareness, Care and Training Centre, Grant Baiden, has underscored the need for the public to stop describing children with Autism as demons or spiritually cursed.
He said autism is not caused by spiritual attacks and only ignorant persons who would make such arguments.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm with care support and training children with Autism will be just like any other child.
He indicated that there was a need for intensified campaigns to give the public more insight into autism as a condition.
He also disputed assertions that autism is not contagious, as some persons have claimed.
He said it is also not true that persons who care for children with autism are prone to being autistic.
Grant Baiden further noted that another misconception is that it is linked to intellectual disability.
He said when diagnosed with autism at an early age, and with training and care, children will see tremendous growth through the years.
Children with autism he added may not speak, but they may use things like pictures known as picture exchange communication system to sign language to communicate.
They may not understand what other people say; may copy what other people say or gestures other people make, have challenges with their behaviour, may not take part in games or activities with other people and other signs.
He advised parents to take note of these signs and seek help from professionals than to assign spiritual reasons to autism.
About the Centre
The centre organizes training sessions for our staff, volunteers and workers about the best strategies to adopt in caring for children with autism.
These have led to the adoption of an individualized education plan (IEP) for our children with autism as each child currently is given a one-on-one specialized training.
The impact of the IEP on our children is that their needs have been met differently and also the gap between the previous ways of caring and newer ways of caring for our children with autism has been bridged.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
