GTCO partners U.S., Ghanaian firms, others for autism conference

GTCO partners U.S., Ghanaian firms, others for autism conference

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has partnered with Autism Compassion Africa, Ghana, The Colour of Autism Foundation, United States of America, Meharry Medical College, United States of America, Behaviorprise Consulting Inc., Canada and Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Enugu for the 12th GTCO Autism Conference.

Theme of the conference, which according to a statement, holds from August 29 to 30,2022 in Lagos, is: “Creating a Community of Awe-Tism Advocates.”

Speaking on the upcoming event, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO, Segun Agbaje, said much had been done over the years to increase the social consciousness around autism and improve available support systems for managing developmental disorders.

He stated that the bank strongly believes that it can do more individually and collectively to create and uphold a culture of inclusion towards people with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) to enable them reach their full potential.

Agbaje observed that the Orange Ribbon initiative was created to support children and adults with developmental disabilities, with focus on those suffering ASDs.

The top banker said “now in its second decade, the yearly autism conference has over the years created a community of people with a shared commitment to create better outcomes for those, who find themselves in the margins of society, simply because they are different from the rest.”

He noted that to ensure more persons with developmental disorders can benefit from professional help, provision had been made to offer specialist care to autistic children in the areas of speech and behaviour therapy, child psychology and psychiatry.

Others, he said, are occupational development for adults living with autism via in-person consultations at the Chapel of Light, Alausa, Ikeja, from August 23 to 27.