‘Govt should train teachers on special education’

What are the aims of the institute? The Zamarr Institute was founded in 2006 and the school pays attention to children with special needs. Our main focus is autism – children who are challenged by most essential human behaviour. I read Psychology and decided to start Zamarr Institute to provide support for children with autism […]

What are the aims of the institute?
The Zamarr Institute was founded in 2006 and the school pays attention to children with special needs. Our main focus is autism – children who are challenged by most essential human behaviour. I read Psychology and decided to start Zamarr Institute to provide support for children with autism disorder and help them to overcome their challenges. We have offered a range of medical and mental health services to over 100 children in this center. When we started we were the first center for people with special need but we have not less than 10 centers in Abuja now. 
 We don’t level our children the way primary, secondary and tertiary institutions do. Basically, we looked at the need of each individual in our center. So, it is not necessarily primary, secondary and university level.
What are your achievements?
Some of the children trained in this center are now in regular schools. This is a big achievement for us because it means the child is doing better and doesn’t need special education directly.
Mention the challenges facing children with autism?
Children with autism are facing discrimination and it’s rather sad. People are also inpatient in dealing with them as well. These children need parental care and attention from the community.
How would you provide solutions to the challenges?
Children with autism need to feel better about themselves and believe that they can do well. If you are feeling less important or challenged, you are likely to give up. On our part, we should also give them space. Disability is something that can meet up with you anywhere anytime. I have a friend who had a car crash just before he graduated from the university.
Though he regained consciousness but he is bedridden. We need to accommodate each other. We should provide early intervention for children with autism because their case is unique. Some people may say there is cure for autism but I believe there is no cure for autism at this time. Government should identify these children at the basic level and train enough teachers on special education. Corporate organisations and individuals should sponsor less privileged children with autism to schools.