The Day Mrs Dotun Akande of Patrick Speech and Language Centre, Lagos - Visited the C.A.D.E.T. Academy

On the 30th of October 2015, The Comprehensive Autism and related Disabilities Education and Training (C.A.D.E.T.) Academy Abuja was visited by Mrs Dotun Akande, Founder and Proprietress of the Patrick Speech and Language Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The Patrick Speech and Language Centre is a unique centre for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger Syndrome and other related developmental disabilities. For over 10 years, the Centre has been at the forefront of increasing awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders in Nigeria. 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviours. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people.

* About 1 in 68 children has been identified with ASD according to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

* ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

* ASD is almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 42) than among girls (1 in 189).

* ASD is a lifelong disability and there is no known cure.

* Early diagnosis and intervention could help a great deal in managing ASD.

*(Source: United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

The visit offered an opportunity for cross fertilization of ideas in the areas of special education needs and awareness efforts between the two organizations. We would like to thank Mrs Dotun Akande for honouring us with her visit, her words of encouragement and also for her kind donation in support of the children on our program. We celebrate you ma!

Here are some pictures from the visit: