Chairman, Brace Foundation for Children, Dr Gabriel Ogbechie, said there is a need to increase awareness, education, and resources to help children with special needs, integrate into society and live fulfilling lives.
Ogbechie spoke at a one-day Special Needs Empowerment Workshop in Lagos, organised by the foundation.
It was titled, ‘Special Needs: Effective Living.’
Ogbechie stressed the importance of collaboration between key stakeholders, government, families, schools, and society if meaningful change was to take place.
He said, “The children with special needs we see today are often struggling in school, struggling to fit into society, and struggling to live meaningful, fulfilling lives.
“We recognised this gap and felt it was important to bring in resources to help these children live better lives and integrate more effectively into society.”
Drawing attention to the need for awareness, Ogbechie reflected on the societal stigma that still surrounds children with special needs.
“When I was growing up in the village, we encountered children who had what we now understand to be special needs.
“At that time, however, we didn’t have the awareness to know what their conditions were. These children were often mistreated and excluded because we didn’t understand what they were going through.”
He acknowledged that while education had helped increase awareness about special needs, discrimination and misunderstanding persist, particularly in schools and communities.
“Education has made us understand that these children have special needs—not to be ostracised, but to be supported. Unfortunately, discrimination continues, both in schools and among peers. We need to educate society to accept children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other special needs as valuable members of our community.”
Vice-Chairperson of the foundation, Mrs Godrey Ogbechie, shared her insights on supporting mothers and children with special needs.
She advised that the term “special needs” should be reframed to “additional needs,” as every individual, regardless of their circumstances, had unique requirements that should be addressed with love and care.
She bemoaned the low awareness and lack of resources for families with children who have additional needs, noting that many parents were unaware of what their children were going through and often lacked access to the necessary support.
She expressed concern over the absence of government provisions for special needs education, especially in public schools, and the inability of regular schools to accommodate children with additional needs due to insufficient resources.
“The government should prioritise inclusive education and ensure that special needs children have access to the same educational opportunities as others, particularly for families who cannot afford private special needs schools. The
government to invest in specialised schools or integrate support systems into existing schools to ensure no child is left behind.”
Executive Director of Brace Foundation, Dr Soibi Hephzibah Godwin-Clark, emphasised the importance of creating inclusive spaces for individuals with special needs, particularly in Africa, where over 80 per cent of people living with disabilities resided, with a significant number in Nigeria.
She pointed out the urgency of providing these individuals with access to quality education.
Godwin-Clark reiterated the commitment of Brace Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, to foster inclusive education, promote skill development, and advocate for the acceptance and support of children with special needs, thereby enhancing their quality of life.
Head of the Speech Pathology and Special Education Unit at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Temitope Amodu, delivered a talk on ‘Speech Therapy: Exploring the Art of Communication.’
She explained that individuals with disabilities often experienced communication disorders, which could affect both children and adults.
“If you cannot understand someone effectively, you have a communication disorder. Communication is crucial for improving quality of life, and any impairment in this area can significantly impact both children and adults,” Dr. Amodu stated.