AN INCLUSIVE KIND WORLD

We’ve heard the word “inclusion” a thousand times this year.  What does it mean? Simply means to include someone in the activities of the society.  We know about gender-inclusive governance where people are pushing for women to be part of the decision-making in politics.  Speaking of politics, have you gotten your PVC? Next year, we have the power to elect Godly and serious-minded leaders, let’s not throw that power away and put the country in the hands of reckless and shameless people. Thanks.  Right now, I want to talk about special needs inclusion. Sometimes, people with special needs are excluded from a particular activity. It could start from your child not being invited to a classmate's birthday party because of his/her disability.  Thank God that this is now changing.  We have people with special needs in politics, sports, on our big screens, the art space, and so much more.  People are getting the message that EVERYONE matters.  But we still have to address some challenges.

  It is a hard pill to swallow but children with developmental disorders are often not recognized in society.  Yes, I said it! Special education is a unique educational program for students who have mental, physical, and emotional challenges.  These children require special and unique teaching approaches. Sometimes, these approaches take place outside a regular classroom setting. Special-needs children refer to children who have some  sensory challenges.  Some of these challenges are common to children with Autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, hearing impairments, developmental delay, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, visual impairment, and much more. It’s unfair that children are placed in regular classrooms and are forced to learn the way neurotypical children are.  My brother once attended a school for neurotypical children.  This was a time when we weren’t sure about his diagnosis. I could tell that it was hard for him. He wouldn't participate

  RETT SYNDROME   We learn every day. I just learnt about Rett syndrome this year and I thought to share it with you. This is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects mostly girls.   This disorder includes early growth and development followed by a slow development. Other characteristics include; loss of use of the hands, slowed brain and head growth, problems with walking, seizures, and intellectual disability. The severity of symptoms varies from child to child, just like Autism.  Before the symptoms begin, the child generally appears to grow and develop normally, but with little challenges as loss of muscle tone, difficulty feeding, and jerkiness in limb movements. Other symptoms may include walking on the toes, sleep problems, , teeth grinding and difficulty chewing, slowed growth, seizures, cognitive disabilities, and breathing difficulties while awake such as hyperventilation, apnea (breath holding), and air swallowing. Gradually, mental and physical symptoms begin to a

 Last year, I prayed that I would be part of the speakers for the GT-Bank Annual Autism Programme and I got an opportunity! As a chronic overthinker and scaredy cat, I began to worry if I would be able to do it. Everyone knows Public speaking is not my best forte. I couldn’t raise my voice in a group of ten, why would I be able to do it with over 300 people in the room and more virtually? Despite the voices in my head and my tailor trying to mess up my life the day before, I promised myself that I would let nothing bother me.  Nothing. This year’s theme is creating a community of Awe-tism Advocates and I couldn’t love it much more. This was the exact one I wanted to go into. To be honest, I cannot seem to understand how GT bank had been able to plan something so perfect. Everything was perfect for me from the dance and drama presentation by Corporate dance world, to the end of the two-day conference.  I was part of the panel discussion "It takes with a village", this means t

  My brother refuses to sleep. Help me! A good night rest is so NEEDED, but unfortunately it’s not guaranteed for everyone, especially for people with autism.  Younger, my little brother used to have trouble staying asleep. He would wake up by 1am and won’t be able to sleep afterwards.  Individuals on the spectrum often have trouble falling and staying asleep. He would wake up in the night frequently and of course, decides that “If I can’t sleep, no one else can”. Many people with autism have other conditions ,  such as  apnea, gastrointestinal problems ,  attention deficit hyperactivity disorder  (ADHD) or  anxiety . What I have learnt is that sensory sensitivitie s   to light, sound or touch may contribute to difficulty sleeping. In some cases, people on the spectrum carry mutations that make them prone to sleeping problems.  How we eventually fixed Tobi’s insomnia, if I am allowed to use that word is that we set a routine for him to follow. It helps him fall asleep. In my ho

Are medications really effective?? I recall a particular medication my little brother was given by a specialist.   He had a serious reaction to it- his neck became very stiff and he couldn't really move. Of course, my Yoruba parents began to fear and fuss.  I didn't think those kind of medications had side effects.  ASD Medications can be used for various things- to manage high energy levels, to help a child focus, to treat depression, or to manage seizures.   Currently, there is no medication that can cure Autism spectrum disorder but there are some that can help treat certain symptoms associated with ASD, especially certain behaviors. Research has shown that medication is very effective when used in combination with behavioral therapies.  However, not all m edications work for all children. If you need to get a particular medication for your child or ward, the first step is to collaborate with a good specialis t.   It is important to work with a doctor who has top

  There are thousands of battles that come with being a sibling to someone who has autism. Being afraid to invite friends around in case they don’t understand, fussing over being future caregivers, and not understanding why he or she is in pain. There are so many, my lord! Today is my brother’s 21st birthday and I recall how little he was before being this big and wonderful man I am so glad to be related to.  Yes, I love my brother, but some things upset him when it comes to him. Not everything is easy, but dealing with his challenges helped me, or rather made me grow. One thing I have learned is that nothing is impossible. There are days that I thought my brother wouldn’t know how to do basic things, but now- I am blown away by his growth, especially when it comes to his speech. Silence speaks volumes. This, I know. Just because he’s silent, doesn’t mean he can’t speak. I also consider persons with disabilities because I know how tough it can be. One of the greatest things I

When I was younger, I met about three of Tobi’s therapists and all of them were completely different. They all had their strengths.  But I would never forget Aunty Nancy, she was an exceptionally beautiful woman and Tobi really loved her. She knew how to handle him well, especially his draining meltdowns.  She was superb! I didn’t see how the therapy might have been hard, all I saw was Tobi trying to communicate with this beautiful woman, singing, talking… It was impressive. Yes, there is no cure for autism but with therapy, people with ASD can move forward in life. Support is needed, but therapy goes a long way too.  Various kinds of therapy include;  Behavioral management therapy, Educational and school-based therapies, Nutritional therapy, Occupational therapy, Parent-mediated therapy, physical therapy, Speech-language therapy.  Yes, not everyone will need all of these therapies, because Autism is a spectrum and one person’s challenge is not the same with another.    ABA  (Applied B

On World Autism Awareness Day, we speak out against discrimination, celebrate the diversity of our global community and strengthen our commitment to inclusion for people with autism.” –  Antonio Guterres, United Nations Why is Autism Awareness day every important? I gave it a quick thought. Why should we have a particular day meant for Autism awareness? Shouldn’t it be a daily basis where we advocate for Autism acceptance and inclusion? But it doesn’t mean that I don’t love the great day! I always love forward to this day because it’s a day where EVERYONE shows their support and love. This month, I plan to celebrate by releasing my first Autism fiction novel “ All For my Odd beautiful boy”. It’s a story about a young mother and how she battles with household issues- her emotionally abusive husband, her meddling mother-in-law and also her son, who happens to be cursed’ or possessed with the devil. Demonic possession has been a misconception of Autism for a long while and it'

  World Down Syndrome is a special day marked every March 21st to celebrate people with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a lifelong condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during the pregnancy and after birth. Early intervention can help individuals to improve on their physical and intellectual abilities.  Right now, I am so glad that there is so much inclusion in the world. This is exactly what I was hoping for. We have people with Down syndrome that are being recognized! This year, Sofia Jirau made history as the first Victoria’s secrets model with down syndrome! She was joined along with 17 other women for the company’s new campaign. We have other people who have Down syndrome and who are totally amazing. Madeline Stuart is an Australian model who has done so much, walking for the New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and London Fashion Week, despite having Down syndrome. Tommy Jessop is

Before we kick off, Happy Valentine's day!!! We communicate each day of our lives. Even without words, we’re still communicating.  Now, we can communicate with our facial expressions, with colors and also with cards too.  The most striking feature of autism is social interaction . Social Interaction meaning communication in general. Individuals with ASD have  limited or no understanding to people’s feelings and emotions. They also have problems in non-verbal communication and making eye- contact.  I literally try hard to psych my brother out. I’m always looking at him and each time he meets my eyes, he averts it away. I know it’s mean, but sometimes, I just really love it. With social interaction, comes having relationships. It can be difficult for people with ASD to make or keep friends. Tobi, my little brother is a natural charmer and people love him, but he doesn’t really love talking to people, if you get what I mean. There’s this woman in our estate that always greets him

  Happy New year, guys!   Last year, I was really consistent about posting on this blog. Unfortunately, I cannot be posting bi-weekly because your girl is an adult and she cannot handle so much.  Although, I will be using my Instagram account for more content. Follow  SpectrumSis on Instagram So, as this is the first blogpost of the year. I decided to start on a light note, talking about the Diagnosis of Autism.  As you know Autism is a spectrum and it presents itself differently in people. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms.  If your child or sibling has been showing signs that he/she might be autistic, the right thing to do is to go to a doctor. The good news is that there are experienced specialists that can help to get a proper diagnosis. Doctors and Behavioural Specialists can look at your child's developmental history and behavior and  then make decisions from there.  ASD is usually detected at 18 months or younger.  Early signs of ASD include  avoiding   eye contac