As part of activities marking this year’s Children’s Day, the FOS Autism Foundation recently organised a one-day free neuro-developmental screening and
consultation programme
in Ikorodu, Lagos, aimed at improving autism awareness and early intervention
for children with special needs.
The outreach, which
attracted over 70 children alongside parents, guardians and caregivers,
featured a team of medical and developmental specialists, including
a consultant
paediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist, behaviour analysts, speech
therapists and occupational therapists.
The programme focused
on autism awareness, early screening, counselling and equipping parents with
practical strategies to better support children with
developmental
challenges.
In a statement, the
founder of the FOS Autism Foundation, Osezusi Bolodeoku, said the initiative
was driven by the need to make
essential support
services accessible to families who may not be able to afford professional
care.
She explained that many
parents lack access to specialised intervention due to cost, adding that early
guidance can significantly improve outcomes for
children.
“As professionals,
accessing this kind of support requires significant financial capability. So
what happens to children whose families cannot afford it?”
she said.
Bolodeoku, a
behavioural analyst and educational psychologist, noted that her personal
experience as a parent of a child with ADHD also inspired her advocacy,
stressing that parents
can make meaningful progress when equipped with the right tools.
She added that Ikorodu
was selected for the outreach due to the high number of children in the area
who require developmental support, noting that while
government efforts in
special education are commendable, more collaboration is still needed from
private initiatives.
Bolodeoku also
addressed misconceptions surrounding autism, stressing that it is not a disease
or a “death sentence,” but a developmental condition that
benefits greatly from
early intervention.
According to her, the
foundation has also created support groups where parents can interact with
professionals, receive guidance and follow up on their
children’s progress
over time.
“Families are not
leaving empty-handed. They are going home with recommendations and strategies,
and they will continue to receive support and follow-up,”
she said.
Also speaking at the
event, behaviour analyst Priscilla Ahaiwe-Okeke described the initiative as
impactful, noting that access to therapy and assessment
remains expensive for
many families.
She said the outreach
provided parents with practical, home-based strategies to support their
children while they await more structured interventions.
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