Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Ltd, a subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), is set to hold the 2024 Autism Workshop and Consultations at the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra – Ghana from Tuesday, July 23, 2024 to Saturday July 27, 2024.
This initiative is one of the bank’s biggest Corporate Social Responsibility programmes that is dedicated to providing support to people, especially children, living with Autism, their families and caregivers in our communities. This year’s programme, being the third edition, will be held under the theme ‘A Spectrum of Possibilities’, and seeks to promote inclusivity and self-advocacy for all persons living with Autism.
Last year’s edition of the Autism Workshop & Consultations was held over a five day period in Accra with specialists, consultants and partner organizations from Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, Nigeria and Ghana that are specialized in areas of Speech Therapy, Behaviour Analysis, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Special Education Needs Specialty, Psychiatry, etc.
There were series of talks and presentations on Behaviour, Function and Intervention Strategies. There were also group breakout sessions which allowed parents and caregivers to freely share their experiences and concerns so as to receive solutions to their challenges of handling people living with Autism. The Consultation sessions saw over 200 families coming in to see the various specialists.
This 3rd edition will also begin with a workshop on Tuesday, July 23, 2024; where there will be lectures and discussions on Communications across the Spectrum and Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Psychiatric Comorbidities and Inclusive Education. One-on-one consultations will then follow from Wednesday, July 24, to Saturday, July 27, 2024 at the same venue, from 10:00am to 4:00pm each day.
The free workshop and consultation will be led by a team of carefully selected specialists and subject-matter experts from within and outside Africa with years of experience.
Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Ltd, Thomas Attah John, said “This Autism initiative is very dear to us as a Bank. The stories of parents and caregivers are overwhelming and continue to serve as a lamppost showing us that this initiative is a critical one and has come to stay. As a socially responsible Bank committed to serving our community, we believe strongly that this programme is a turning point for families to have hope restored to them, and an avenue to improve upon the health and education of people, especially children, living with Autism.”
He further stated, “Society thrives when diverse individuals with their distinctive voices, perspectives, and cultures are welcomed and celebrated. It is therefore important that persons on the ASD spectrum are empowered to embrace their uniqueness and experience life to its fullest while contributing meaningfully to society.”
All families, individuals, parents and caregivers are encouraged to actively participate in this 5-day programme and benefit from the wealth of experience that it offers.
