By Chidinma Oparaochaekwe
Health professionals, therapists and special education experts have urged parents to seek early assessment and intervention for children showing signs of developmental delays, stressing that timely support can improve their communication, learning, social interaction and overall quality of life.
They gave the advice at a free family consultation and therapy outreach for children with special needs organised by Triple A Foundation in collaboration with Patrick’s Speech and Language Centre at Graine Royale Inclusive School, Ijaiye, Ojokoro, Lagos.
The outreach brought together medical professionals, speech and language specialists, behavioural analysts, nutritionists, audiologists, counsellors and occupational therapists to provide consultations, assessments and guidance to families. The initiative was designed to bring specialised services closer to families who might otherwise struggle to access or afford them.
Speaking on the purpose of the initiative, Programme Director of Triple A Foundation, Miss Subomi Ajibola, said the collaboration was necessary because the foundation could not independently meet the growing needs of children with special needs and their families. She explained that working with Patrick’s Speech and Language Centre, Pure Souls Learning Foundation, government agencies, primary healthcare facilities and educational institutions would help extend specialised services, connect families with available support and reach children whose parents might otherwise be unable to afford assessment and therapy.
Ajibola said the foundation, whose name stands for Advocate for Autism Awareness Foundation, was established to bridge gaps in support for children with special needs, particularly children with autism. Its programmes include workshops, training, community outreaches, awareness campaigns and family subsidy initiatives.
“We are bringing therapy services closer to families who may not ordinarily have access to them.”
She explained that the outreach followed months of planning, resource mobilisation and coordination. More than 80 staff members were involved in activities at the venue, while community mobilisation and radio outreach were used to inform families about the programme.
The process included registration, collection of children’s developmental histories, assessment and referral to appropriate specialists and nearby primary healthcare centres for further support.
Ajibola said the foundation also intended to subsidise services for as many families as its resources would permit, while encouraging individuals and organisations to support its work.
“This work requires collaboration. What we are doing here is reaching one community and one school, but there are millions of people across the country who also need support.”
Founder of Patrick’s Speech and Language Centre and Pure Souls Learning Foundation, Mrs Dotun Akande, said the initiative would help families identify their children’s developmental needs and access professional guidance.
She explained that developmental challenges could include speech and language difficulties, behavioural conditions, cerebral palsy, autism and other disabilities. She urged parents to pay attention to signs such as a child not speaking by the age of two, using very few words or having difficulty understanding language.
“Early speech and language therapy helps children develop their communication abilities and reach their full potential.”
Akande advised parents to engage children at their level, use familiar objects and activities to encourage communication, and teach practical self-help skills. She added that pictures, gestures and signs could support children who had difficulty communicating through speech.
She also stressed the need for community and government support to make therapy services more affordable and accessible to families.
“The government also has a responsibility to provide social support and make therapy more affordable and accessible to families.”
Senior Medical Officer at Iwa Primary Health Centre, Ojokoro Local Government Area, Dr Adeyemi Adebayo, said developmental challenges could become apparent at different stages of a child’s growth, making it important for parents and healthcare providers to monitor developmental milestones.
He advised parents to observe their children’s communication, movement, social interaction and ability to respond to others. He stressed that parents should seek professional assessment when they notice developmental delays or concerns about their children’s progress.
“Early assessment is important because it helps us identify developmental challenges and provide appropriate intervention as soon as possible.”
Adebayo also cautioned against misconceptions that attribute developmental disorders to spiritual forces or unsupported claims about vaccines and food. He said families needed reliable medical information to make informed decisions and avoid delaying professional assessment because of misinformation.
“We need to address these misconceptions through proper education, increased awareness and access to reliable medical information.”
He added that children with speech, behavioural, cognitive and other developmental challenges deserved compassionate care and access to appropriate services.
Co-Director of Graine Royale Inclusive School, Mrs Modupe Philips-Adeyemo, said inclusive education was based on recognising each child’s abilities and providing the support needed to help them learn alongside their peers.
“What inspired us is our belief that there is an ability in disability.”
She explained that the school assesses children to determine their individual needs and develops Individualised Educational Plans to guide their learning and support. Depending on the outcome of an assessment, a child may receive speech therapy, behavioural support or assistance from a shadow teacher to participate more effectively in classroom activities.
“We provide therapy three times a week. We also assess the children every six weeks to monitor their progress and identify areas that may require additional intervention.”
Philips-Adeyemo said the school also involved parents in the process, noting that cooperation between families and educators was important for monitoring progress and maintaining consistent support for children.
A parent and special-needs therapist, Mrs Modupe Sekumade, encouraged families who noticed developmental delays in their children to seek professional help rather than remain in denial or assume that a diagnosis meant the end of their children’s prospects.
She said finding appropriate care for her son had initially been challenging, but consultations with a paediatrician and subsequent interventions helped the family understand his needs. Her experience later motivated her to train as a special-needs therapist, enabling her to support her child and other families.
“My advice to parents is that if they notice any developmental delay, they should not see it as a death sentence. They should ask questions and seek help.”
Sekumade also highlighted the financial and social difficulties faced by families, including the high cost of inclusive education and therapy. She recounted experiencing stigma and rejection, adding that her family had to make significant sacrifices to secure appropriate support for her son.
She called on the government to work with organisations already providing specialised services to improve awareness and extend support to families who cannot afford private care.
“The government should also collaborate with private organisations that are already providing these services effectively so that we can expand awareness and reach more families, especially those who cannot afford specialised care.”
Another parent, Mrs Oluwatoyin Azeez, described caring for a child with special needs as financially and emotionally demanding because of the cost of medication, therapy and repeated medical appointments.
Azeez, who said she had been widowed for more than 16 years, expressed hope that the outreach would connect her with people and services that could help her care for her daughter.
“My expectation is to find someone who can support me in caring for my daughter.”
She appealed to the government, organisations and individuals to provide financial, medical and empowerment support to families raising children with special needs, particularly those struggling to meet the cost of essential care.
“Caring for these children is not easy, and we need help in different areas, including financial assistance, empowerment and medical support.”
The experts stressed that early identification, professional assessment and sustained intervention could help children with developmental challenges make progress while enabling families to better understand and manage their needs. They called for greater public awareness and improved access to affordable healthcare, therapy and inclusive education so that children with special needs are not left without essential support because of financial constraints or misinformation.
