AID holds special schools excellence awards

Accra, May 2, GNA - The Autism and Intellectual Disability (AID) Project has held its 2015 Ghana Special Schools Excellence Awards to encourage care givers.

The award was to also encourage the care givers to continue serving the less privileged children in the society.

The event was organised by AID in collaboration with Hope of the Needy Ghana, a non-governmental organisation that empowers orphans, vulnerable children and their caregivers including providing psycho-social support.

Mrs Dela Sowah, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, who launched the programme said the sector is glad to be part of the event because of its critical importance in building support for persons with autism.

She expressed gratitude to the AID project for providing a platform to create awareness on autism and intellectual disability.

Mrs Sowah noted that issues such as marginalisation and stigmatisation remain key to ensuring protection of rights of all persons with disability.

She urged the public to give children with disability space in every field of societal development since they are special people who should not be left out.

'Parents with such children are either stigmatised or hide their children; marriages are broken because some men think their wives are the cause of the situation of the children and that is why the Ministry will always support such initiative,' she said.

Ms Ama Ampomah Mensah, 1st runner up of TV3's 2012 Ghana's Most Beautiful, who is the brain behind the project, said research has proven that persons with autism and intellectual disability have been neglected for long.

She said due to this, she felt the need to encourage caregivers of such children who undergo through a lot to bring out their potential.

'Showing appreciation to these people means a lot to them and that is why we intend to make this a yearly activity to inspire the caregivers to give out their best to the society,' she added.

Ms Ampomah said the children are special people with good hearts who deserve to be accepted into the society and shown love.

The Founder expressed gratitude to Ghana Textiles Print for giving away six yards to the awardees and nominees.

She advised parents who have such children, not to be discouraged of taking care of them since they are special with unique potentials that could come out when given the love and care they deserve.

Ms Wiyaala Noelle, a Musician who was present at the event said the best she can do to help such children with special needs is to educate the public on the need to make the children feel part of society through music.

Six special schools were awarded with Mrs Comfort Darkwa emerging as the Longest serving care giver from 1992 to 2015.Others awards including electronic gadgets and cosmetics were presented to Yesutor Adzo Gbewonyo as the most outstanding teacher skills and Nana Akua Owusu as service excellence for spearheading speech therapy in Ghana.

GNA