Gender Ministry to partner Autism Aid App project

The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Gifty Twum, says her Ministry will partner the autism aid app project to do a national registration exercise for children living with Special-Needs.

She also commended the Autism Ambassadors of Ghana for their good work to create awareness of autism, and the need to give people living with Autism the needed support.

Autism is a complex neurobehavioral condition that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive behaviors.

Speaking at the launch of the Autism Aid App Version 2.0 project, in Accra, she said “the Ministry of Gender looks forward to partner with the Autism Aid App Project”.

She noted that People living with Autism have become pervasive the world is fighting to cure, “In other parts of the country, people living with autism are giving special attention” she said.

She, therefore, believes with projects such as the autism aid App and others in the system, the nation is heading towards cushioning the support for the disability.

Autism Aid App
 

The Autism Aid App provides a helpline service for families of children living with Autism to get information from professionals on how to care for their children.

It also provides a Picture Exchange Communication System for children living with the illness while creating an Autism Awareness platform for the citizenry to learn more about it.

The App is the first Android application for children living with Autism in Ghana and West-Africa developed by the Autism Ambassadors of Ghana.

The new advanced features of the Autism Aid App Version 2.0 includes a USSD Code *800*24# which provides a Helpline Service for families of children living with Autism.

The code can also be accessed on any phone and is available on Google Play Store for downloads.
 
The Founder and co-developer of the App, Alice Mamaga Akosua Amoako, noted that there were efforts by few benevolent persons to support the autism situation, yet these seemed not enough.

“There was, therefore, the drive to educate guardians and parent of the kids living with autism to gradually learn the basics of interacting and understanding the ordinary so as to relate very well to every individual” she said.
 
“This brought about the development of the AUTISM AID APP and subsequently its upgrade . It is to enhance Autism support and help interaction for persons living with the condition to be able to conform to society without stress” she added.

The Country Director for the British Council, Mr. Alan Rutt, who was also a Special Guest of Honor, commended the innovation works of the Autism Ambassadors of Ghana.

 A former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie encouraged the public to come together to support children living with Autism in Ghana.

Five children living with Autism on the day were recognised and emerged the Global Icons of the Autism Aid App.

They include; Renate Nana Yaa Kuffour (Ghana), Maame Bema Baffour Awuah (Ghana), Yacoba Tete-Marmon (Ghana), Yooku Adentwi (Ghana) and Henda Gaspar De Assis (United Kingdom).

The Country Director of Reach for Change, an International NGO, Mr. Solomon Twum, commended App founder, Alice Mamaga Akosua Amoako and pledged the organisation's support to the Autism Ambassadors of Ghana on their project.

Existence

Established in April 2016, the Autism Aid App operates in Ghana and its social impact is currently in Ghana, London, and Tanzania. Partners for the autism aid app project are AirtelTigo, Reach For Change, National Council of Persons with Disability (NCPD) and Wigal Solutions.

It also includes Edern Security, Soronko Academy, Inclusion Ghana and Eko Productions. The rest are Brich Ghana, Ispace and Ghana Volunteer Program.

The event launch was sponsored by Think Mahogany, V-Media GH, Gallery GM, Vitamilk, Fruity Water and Niorak Advertising.