Mission Pediatrics, Klicks Africa, and Hope Setter’s Autism Center Unite for Autism and Special Needs Conference 2023
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Mission Pediatrics, in conjunction with Klicks Africa and Hope Setter’s Autism Center, is hosting the inaugural Autism and Special Needs Conference 2023. The conference theme, “Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Professionals,” underscores its commitment to fostering a collaborative environment for stakeholders in the autism and special needs space.
The conference taking place at the Achimota Girls’ Guide Center, the conference spans from the 24th to the 25th of November 2023.
Dr. Marbell-Wilson, medical director of Mission pediatrics, addressing the conference’s opening session, revealed that the event originated from the vision to create a platform bringing together service providers, professionals, paraprofessionals, educators, policymakers, and crucially, parents. The goal is to collectively strategize on supporting Ghanaian children with special needs to unlock their full potential.
Highlighting the focus areas, Dr. Marbell-Wilson emphasized the conference’s exploration of standard practices in the special needs field. Notably, the conference places a significant emphasis on addressing the mental health challenges faced by parents, caregivers, and siblings of individuals with special needs. Dr. Wilson stressed that addressing the mental well-being of families is paramount, given the stress, anxiety, and depression often experienced by those supporting individuals with special needs.
Dr. Marbell-Wilson outlined the conference objectives, with a primary aim of bridging the gap in access to special needs services and provisions. Another key objective is to instigate quality improvement and accountability measures, ensuring the delivery of top-notch care. Esteemed speakers at this year’s conference include speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, behavior therapists, and special needs educators amongst others.
The conference’s specific focus on empowering parents aligns with its goal of equipping them with the knowledge to navigate service expectations. Dr. Marbell-Wilson emphasized that the event will spotlight service providers, providing parents with a valuable array of choices.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Marbell-Wilson expressed the conference’s aspiration to inspire local researchers to contribute to the field. The aim is to generate local data that can sensitize policymakers and catalyze changes, ensuring the provision of quality care across all regions of Ghana. The Autism and Special Needs Conference 2023 stands as a pivotal moment in advancing support for individuals with special needs in the country.
Jacinta H. Sulemana/ Ahotoronline.com
