The Comprehensive Autism and related
Disabilities Education and Training (C.A.D.E.T.) Academy in conjunction with
the non-profit Dewdrops Community Centre for Special Needs Abuja, organized an Autism
Awareness Dinner/Seminar on 25th April 2015, at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja,
Nigeria. The event marked the climax of the various activities which the C.A.D.E.T.
Academy conducted to mark the month of April as the International Month of
Autism Awareness. The dinner served as a platform to create awareness about
Autism, educate, inspire and encourage families, teachers and caregivers who
are dealing with young students living with Autism, and also to raise funds to
achieve the
following aspirations under our registered non-profit arm (The Dewdrops
Community Centre for Special Needs and Vulnerable Women):
a. Production of a 15-minute weekly radio and television
program on special needs awareness.
b. Scholarship/sponsorship of special needs students, and
special education capacity building for teachers.
c. Procurement and installation of special education needs
resources, assessment materials and teaching aids.
d. Building of a proposed Community Centre
for Special Needs and Vulnerable Women in Abuja.
The event was well attended by many parents
of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, some regular school teachers (who
were also honoured with gift items), prominent school owners, caregivers, and
very important personalities in the Federal Government of Nigeria, such as the
Honourable Minister of Power -Professor Chinedu Nebo in company of his wife.
The dinner was preceded by a red carpet session followed by poetry and musical
sessions to entertain the guests. The
duo of Mrs Dayo Benjamin-Laniyi and Mr. Koffi Idowu ensured that there was not
a single dull moment throughout the occasion.
The event gave me the opportunity, as
the special education Program Director of the C.A.D.E.T. Academy and founder of
the Dewdrops Community Centre, to educate and enlighten the participants on
some facts and misconceptions about Autism, the present issues and challenges
to understanding Autism in Nigeria. We also discussed some of the signs and how
to conduct comprehensive tests on individuals who are suspected to be living
with Autism. We further considered certain research-based and evidence-based
practices we could possibly adopt from the United States of America and other
more advanced countries.
The event culminated with a
fundraising session aimed at achieving the earlier stated aspirations and to
provide world class special education at little or no cost to a large pool of
low income earning families in Abuja and its environs. To support the
non-profit Dew Drops Community Centre initiative, please send us email to:
admin@cacademy.sch.ng
If you missed this event, don't
worry, more of our events and activities are scheduled for the months ahead.
You may visit our Facebook page HERE: to view the official photos.
Some photo highlights are below, after the cut.
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