Autistic children and those with Special Education Needs are part of the society and should be treated with love,care, dignity as well as the respect they deserve.
These were part of the message by the Delta State Head of Service, Dr Mininime Oseji to principals of secondary schools across the state.
The state head of service asked the school heads to hold a one day seminar to create awareness among parents and teachers so that the special children could display their abilities, talents and skills.
In response to the directives of the state head of service, the Permanent Secretary, Delta Central, Ministry of Education, the Post Primary Education Board, Ughelli in conjunction with the Principal of Oharisi Secondary School held a seminar for parents and teachers in the locality.
The theme of the seminar is ” Caring for Autistic and Special Children. In a lecture, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Delta Central Senatorial district, Dr. Awoke Ejedimu noted that the seminar on creating awareness about Autism and Children with Special Education needs cannot be overemphasized.
She noted that the awareness was being stepped down among parents, teachers and other members of the society.
Dr Ejedimu stressed that the children with special needs are not physically challenged and advised parents not to bully them or use wrong and unprintable words against the autistic children.
The educationist advised both their parents and teachers to show them love,care as well as communicate with them through sign, visual languages and instructions.
The Coordinator of the Special Needs Education Center, an arm of Oharisi Secondary School, Ughelli, Deaconess Agnes Egboduku urged parents in particular to monitor and understand the special children they have instead of using wrong words on them. She asked parents to encourage them while also educating themselves.
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Principal of Oharisi Secondary School, Ughelli, Mr. Freeborn Ogra lauded the state government through the state head of service, Dr. Mininime Oseji for highlighting the needs of the children who use sign language as means of communication.
Mr. Ogra said many of them are doing well in society despite their disability as they have over the years turned disabilities into abilities.
The Principal of Oharisi Secondary School Ughelli appealed to the government to establish more schools for the special children.
The highlight of the awareness seminar was the inspection of some art work and clothes on display even as the autistic children danced through the sign language to entertain the audience.
