By Isaac Mawuko ADUSU (Dr)
Gradual progress over recent years in Ghana has seen autism spectrum disorder awareness and support reach satisfactory levels. But establishing strong systems, early-intervention programs, and inclusive education, which are essential if children with autism are to have any hope of accessing a quality education, remains a serious challenge.
The Current Landscape
In Ghana, support services related to autism are just beginning to develop. Although the number of awareness campaigns has increased, a large percentage of families and communities remain uninformed or misinformed about autism. This uninformed state often leads to symptoms being attributed to spiritual or cultural causes. This stigma can and does delay the accurate diagnosis of autism and access to care.
The absence of universal screening protocols means that healthcare systems find it challenging to detect autism early. Most healthcare professionals often delay the diagnosis until the child is of school age. This is usually attributed to the “poor sensitivity of screening tools.” But this statement incorrectly puts the onus on the tools rather than the professionals using them.
Early Intervention: A Critical Gap
It is recognized worldwide that effective autism care is built on early intervention. However, in Ghana, such services are almost nonexistent, and the few that exist are concentrated in a few urban centers, such as Accra and Kumasi. Even in those places, the ‘therapists’ you might find are so few, and their services are so expensive that most families can’t realistically afford to see them.
The void has been filled by nonprofit organizations and some private clinics, which have stepped in to offer therapy sessions and workshops. Still, these efforts are too dispersed and too small to meet the growing demand.
Education: The Inclusion Challenge
Children with autism are facing significant challenges in the educational system. The public schools that many of these children attend lack sufficient resources, trained personnel, and adequate facilities. Even special education programs, which can provide a necessary level of support, are typically underfunded and few.
Many parents with special needs children turn to the costly alternative of private special needs schools. These schools are simply inaccessible to a large number of families. The gap left by not having access to either type of school limits not just the academic integration of the children but also their social integration.
Looking Forward
These challenges demand a range of responses. We need to strengthen our healthcare systems so that they routinely screen for autism, expand early intervention services, and invest in intensive teacher training, enabling inclusive education in every classroom.
It is essential to have cooperation and collaboration with government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and local communities to build a sustainable support network. It is also helpful to have public education campaigns that can reduce stigma and promote understanding.
Ghana is building out its autism support infrastructure with the expectation that children with autism will be given the resources necessary not just to survive but to flourish in today’s world. When the autism support infrastructure in Ghana reaches maturity, it will enable many more children on the autism spectrum to achieve their life potential.
Dr. Adusu is a Policy Advocate
