Skip to main content

GT bank's Annual Autism programme, 2019

THE BEST OF THIS YEAR😊


Normally, I fly out of school when I am done with my exams, using the excuse of needing good food, but this time, it was because of Guarantee Trust Bank annual autism programme.
 If I didn't attend this, I would probably hate myself right now.
July 31st was a good day to end the month, to be honest.
GtBank would have to be my best bank right now, because I know we are both fighting for the same cause and  putting ourselves out there to make the world a better place. This is my first time attending this conference, the previous years I just take the souvenirs from my mummy and act like it's mine and accompany her and my brother to the consultation.
 I felt myself yesterday.
Ireti Doyle was in the house, people!😭 she was in the dance/drama presentation. It showcased
the fact that the society was holding the affected individuals from being who they really are. Guess what? They sang the original song from the greatest showman "This is me". A song that was perfect for the situation.
This bank created the orange ribbon initiative that started in 2009.
Everyday, I dream of a better world for people living with various disabilities and disorders, also for greater support system from the family, friends, school and even the government.
The theme for this year focused on various things, such as the role of parents and the community in providing an enabling environment for the individuals, the use of technology in helping them. It also shed more light on transitioning.
As humans, we pray to live a life of Independence and opportunities. What happens if we are holding some people back because of our words and actions.
Children, rather people with autism require strong structures to aid their transition through the various spheres of life.
It is very important to understand these children, that way you are reducing the burden of the parents and siblings and note making yourself a better person.
Employment is a very important to us. Imagine that 70% of autistic individuals remain unemployed. Why? Probably because of our stereotypes and perception of these children. How would you feel if you were told you couldn't do something because of a trait you have? Disappointment, anger, feeling of uselessness, I know I would feel that way.
This week also emphasized on the importance of technology in their transition. The use of mobile phones could help with the communication skills which is very important to the affected individual.  VERY AMAZING FACT: Individuals show interest in the STEM program (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) the things I don't even care about. These individuals are smart and it's breathtaking.
We should continue to empower people living with autism, not just that but also  people with physical, mental, intellectual disabilities with resources, love, care so that they can grow well.
 We should also extend our love and support to unaffected individuals too because we also need it.
 If you know someone who is having challenges with developmental issues, please encourage the person to speak up for his child, friend, relative. Also with this platform GtBank has provided, concerned questions can be answered.
If you are worried about your child's progress and there is a man, Mr. Remi Olutimayin. I was deeply touched by his story. A man on the spectrum and a boss. This man is a blessing to me and I have just known him for a day, he brought me to tears, telling his story. He strived and came out as the best. With hard work and support from his family and friends, he was able to pull through. If he can do it, so can our loved ones.
Thank you GT bank for an amazing yearly conference, for rekindling my passion to write on this platform, for broadening my knowledge on this subject and for speaking out on this issue.
Again, don't worry Your child, sibling, cousin, niece, nephew will be okay.
Most importantly, be a voice.

Comments

  1. OMG, I'm already crying, you write so well, in such a playful but serious way, and your blog is going to touch alot of lives.💞💞💞💞

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have an amazing voice and because of that I know better.. I'm grateful for people like you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Keep being the voice every autism kid needs, you're gonna create a change in no time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awwwwwwwwwwnnnn!!!! This is superrrr amaziiiiinngggg I love itttt!!! God bless you b and God bless GTB I need to start following your blogs back to back mehnnn

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have attended this program 5times with my son and saw remarkable progress I appreciate your creative writing and expressions I could feel it within me in each word I read. Thank you and to GTB I say a big thank...

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EASTER SUNDAY- THE DAY JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND THE DAY I THOUGHT OF SUICIDE

I believe in the opinion that everyone has thought of suicide, and you can argue, but you know deep down, something may have happened to you to make you say, “I’m going to end it all.” But let’s talk about something that happened to me. Now, this article is not to scare you, or to make me seem easily influenced by the other voice. It is to remind you of three things. One, bottling emotions is not good.  Two, the role of caregiving for someone with a disability is not something that is your sole responsibility. Three, the devil is a bastard.  Okay, let's get into it. If you’ve been following my space, you probably know that I have a brother with Autism. As much as it is a beautiful experience, it is very scary. Whenever my brother is coming to the house from school, we ‘ Tobi-proof ’ the house, meaning that we have to hide some things, lock some things up, and it is quite a lot.  See also: Choosing Love as a neurotypical sibling Long story short. I had a meltdown on Sunda...

The Change

HOW I DEALT WITH THE NEWS. Hiiiiiii. Let me just say my awesome friends pushed me to doing this and I love them❤️ So I have been so fortunate to know the word “Autism and everything it entails. I have a brother of 17 years who is autistic and if you knew me well, you would know I mention Tobi like a million times a day, when referring to anything. He's just in my mind everytime, gosh. Is it weird that I don’t remember my childhood? Maybe, But I think it’s so weird that I don’t understand how it happened, why it keeps happening to children, but I can tell that they are beautiful in every way and when my brother became autistic, was he meant to be this or was cursed? As a Nigerian, you question things like this and search for spiritual help.  I never knew of the situation till I was 14. When I was younger, I was ignorant. I didn’t know what was wrong with my brother. I was even too self-absorbed at that age or just busy looking for trouble. I didn’t know why he didn’t speak or w...

SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS, BREATHE!

Sometimes, you need to say “ Screw it ” and take that break” As special needs parents and caregivers, we are used to being strong and ever-present. The word “ Break ” doesn’t exist in our vocabulary, except when we see intense moments of distress and realize that we need to rest. At the Exhale Conference 6.0, I had the honor of moderating a session on creating a sustainable future for children with special needs and I was reminded of one thing- Now is the time to start planning for the future.  Not tomorrow, not next week, but now.  But guess what? Your long-term planning for the children won’t be effective if you don't take care of yourself. The future is not just about setting up a trust fund but taking care of ourselves to ensure we can continue this journey with resilience and strength. The Exhale Conference was organized by a powerhouse, Mrs. Bukola Ayinde, a disability advocate and a special needs mother to a child with cerebral palsy. It was the first time meeting Mrs. ...

Why Special Education Can Never End

Are you aware that you’re unique? That there is no one else like you. This is not me trying to butter you up. I believe that everyone is unique and in this case, I’m leaning towards the aspect of learning.  You know what upsets me? When parents and teachers compare students to one another. You’ve probably heard the words,” Does this child have two heads? Why did he do better? How is he learning this faster than you are?” Dear comparison master, everyone just learns differently. One thing that many people forget is that each person has unique strengths, challenges, and learning styles. My brother has Autism and leans towards learning in Audio-visual form. I’ve realized that people who are not on the spectrum or neurodivergent, also learn differently.  This brings me to the important point that a classroom should be able to accommodate people’s learning differences.  See: Ten Things to take away from Your Safe Space NG 2024  Let me give you an example. My brot...