By Jesse Ampah Owusu
Accra, Oct. 13, GNA – Ms. Sylvia Francois, Board Chair of New Horizon Special School, urged parents and guardians to encourage their special-needs children to demonstrate their innate talents and abilities.
She noted that such children, like all others, possessed unique qualities which when nurtured, could be beneficial to their personal development.
Ms. Francois made the remarks during the 2024 New Horizon Special School Annual Fun Day Games, which were held on the school’s premises in Cantonment, Accra.
The fun games brought together special students from New Horizon Special School and five other institutions to display their skills in various sporting activities, including three-legged races, wheelchair races, 50 and 80-meter sprints, bottle filling, and football.
Held under the theme “Let Me Win. But If I Cannot Win, Let Me Be Brave in the Attempt,” the event allowed students to shine and inspired admiration from parents and guardians in attendance.
The participating schools included Autism Awareness Care and Training, Haven International, Hope Setters Autism Center, Multikids Inclusive Academy, and Woodfield Manor.
Ms. Francois asked parents not to keep their children with special needs locked away, highlighting the necessity of giving them equal opportunity to learn and play with their peers.
She urged parents to see their children as blessings rather than burdens, needing extra care and attention
Ms. Francois stated that the games were designed to promote a sense of belonging and inclusion among the children.
“Sports is something that brings us together, so, it gives the children a sense of achievement and inclusion. When they come and try their hand at the sports and they find that they can do it, it gives them confidence.”
“Also, for the children to enjoy themselves, have fun, and get to know one another. They also need friends. So, they meet children from other schools who are like them as well,” she added.
The fun games were instituted by the school in 2000 to give students the opportunity to enjoy sporting activities like their counterparts in regular schools, setting high standards and encouraging maximum effort.
Over the years, the event has aimed to improve students’ physical abilities, including cardiovascular fitness, strength, weight, and balance, as well as boost their self-esteem, stamina, and overall well-being.
New Horizon Special School, a non-profit charitable institution established in January 1972, provides day education for children and vocational training for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.
The school’s mission is to develop each child’s potential to the fullest, to enable them to lead productive and satisfying lives in society.
GNA