Evelyn Mensah Agu, Program Director, Patsilver Educational Support and Therapy Centre, has urged the government at all levels to give more support to children with special needs.
Agu, a Certified Autism Specialist, made the call Friday in Abuja during the centre’s 2nd annual inter-house sports competition.
She said the competition was organized to showcase what children with special needs could do, adding that it would stimulate their ability to learn.
“Typically inter-house sports are done by typical students who attend mainstream schools, so for me I wanted to change the narrative. By doing this, the students will feel included.
“What we are trying to show is the strength that children with special needs have. If they are empowered appropriately they would be able to do what regular children.”
On her advise to parents with children of special needs, she said: “Parents with kids with special needs should not hide them at home. Empower them by bringing them out. If you suspect that your child have a special need, go and get the child evaluated and then get intervention for the children. Intervention works. The earlier the better.”
Ina Okopi Agu, husband of the centre’s program director, said: “The competition helps to stimulate their competitive side. When the kids are exposed to situations like this, it brings out the competitive part of them and apart from that, it also stimulates fun.”
Daily Trust reports that three houses participated in the 2nd edition of the competition; Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red and Peridot Yellow.
While Sapphire Blue won the competition, Peridot Yellow and Ruby Red took second and third respectively.
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