By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Oct. 8, GNA – Ms. Sandra Quayson, the Founder of Starminds Ghana, has appealed to individuals and institutions to support the Eastern Regional Parent Training Series on autism and special needs.
Starminds Ghana, a speech and early intervention centre, in collaboration with Mission Pediatrics, was committed to creating awareness, training parents and advocating for persons with special needs.
However, funding remained a major challenge as the programme had largely been financed from their own resources.
Ms. Quayson told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Koforidua that they planned to expand the programme next year to include free screening and other activities, which require additional financial support.
She, therefore, appealed to individuals and institutions committed to community development and the welfare of persons with special needs to support the initiative.
Ms. Quayson said the programme had made a significant impact, with some teachers and parents reporting improvements in the speech, communication, language, academic performance and emotional development of children who participated in the interventions.
Speaking on behavioural and emotional regulation among children with autism, Dr. Francis Agyei, a Psychologist at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), said parents who regulated their own emotions effectively were better positioned to help their children manage theirs.
Dr. Agyei urged parents to observe their children closely and look beyond their behavior to understand the emotions and circumstances influencing their actions.
He explained that asking questions and identifying the emotions underlying a child’s behavior would enable parents to respond appropriately and provide the needed support.
He also advised parents to allow children to enjoy their childhood rather than treating them as “miniature adults”, saying children needed to feel happy and safe, explore their environment and develop naturally.
Dr. Agyei cautioned that forcing children to assume adult responsibilities or behaviours prematurely could affect their emotional development and create difficulties later in life.
GNA
Edited by D. I. Laary/ Bertha Badu-Agyei/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae
Email address: [email protected]