Autism Acceptance Still Lags Despite Growing Awareness – Advocate
Autism Advocate and Educational Psychology Specialist, Gifty Okyere has highlighted ongoing challenges in public understanding and acceptance of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ghana, noting that while awareness is improving, true inclusion remains limited.
Speaking on Business Breakfast on ZED 101.9FM, Ms. Okyere said efforts to educate the public about autism are yielding gradual progress, but stressed that awareness alone is not enough to achieve meaningful inclusion.
“Awareness is still ongoing, although it is better than before. The news is still being spread. But as we create awareness, we must also move toward acceptance. Acceptance is what leads to action, so that we can properly accommodate people with autism in our environment,” she said.
She explained that many of the barriers children with autism face are rooted in misconceptions within schools and communities. According to her, some educators still view inclusion as an additional burden rather than a shared responsibility.
Ms. Okyere recounted experiences where teachers expressed concern about managing learners with autism alongside other students, citing workload and classroom control challenges.
“Some teachers ask, ‘How can I handle such a student in my class? It will be too much work; we can’t cope,’” she said.
She also pointed to deeper cultural misunderstandings and fears, including concerns expressed by some educators about personal experiences and misconceptions linking autism to unrelated life events.
“A teacher once asked, ‘What if I have never given birth before, and I take care of a child with autism, and later when I am ready to give birth, something happens?’” she noted.
Ms. Okyere stressed that such beliefs are unfounded, explaining that autism is not caused by external contact or caregiving, but is instead a neurodevelopmental condition.
“It is just the brain that has developed differently,” she said.
The advocate called for intensified education for teachers, parents, and the general public to dispel myths and encourage inclusive attitudes in schools and communities.
