The Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons has sensitised stakeholders to the best approach to manage children with autism and intellectual disability.

The workshop was organised in Umuahia on Saturday by the commission, in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, Shades of Life Foundation.

The participants were drawn from relevant government agencies, including education, health and the disability community.

In a remark, the Commissioner 1 in the commission, Stanley Onyebuchi, said that the workshop was a demonstration of the state government’s commitment to inclusive education.

According to him, the government is interested in ensuring that children with intellectual disability also benefit from education and be useful to themselves.

Mr Onyebuchi said that there were many children with autism and intellectual disability in the state but were not accommodated by the educational system.

He said, “That is why many parents have not taken their children to school, but the current government wants to give a sense of belonging to every Abia citizen, including those with intellectual disability.’’

Also, the Founder and CEO of Shades of Life, Dr Eziafakaku Nwokolo, said that the organisation decided to sensitise the stakeholders because many people lacked the knowledge of autism and intellectual disability.

Mr Nwokolo said, “It is a big challenge, but we want to demystify it, to let people know that it is not a spiritual problem, bad parenting or whatever. I believe that when people are empowered and they have the knowledge, then they can provide the services, whether as teachers, doctors or whatever.’’

She advised parents to reach out to the professionals for screening and confirmation before providing intervention once they noticed any signs of autism or intellectual disability in their children.

She also said that it was the first time the organisation would hold such sensitisation in the South-East, even though it had done a similar event in Lagos State and some other parts of the country.

Mr Nwokolo commended the state Governor Alex Otti for being proactive and accepting the partnership with her organisation to be able to sensitise the people.

(NAN)