The Orange Ribbon Initiative is one of the ways we demonstrate our support for persons with developmental disabilities, focusing on those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) As a primary component of this Initiative, the annual GTCO Autism Conference aims to give voice to the challenges faced by persons with ASD and provide practical assistance to enable them function well as part of the society.
The 2023 Autism Conference was themed "Empowering Voices for Autism" to promote inclusivity and self-advocacy for persons on the Autism Spectrum. Working with specialists and partner organizations within and outside Nigeria, the conference featured lectures, panel discussions, and performances carefully prepared to showcase the diverse talents that exist in the autism community whilst also creating a platform for persons with ASD and their families to connect and share ideas with subject-matter experts on different aspects of autism spectrum.
Many persons affected by autism in both urban and rural communities across Nigeria have continued to benefit from our advocacy and intervention efforts, with the Autism Conference now in its 13th year. Last year, we were able to extend this initiative to Ghana with free consultations for children and adults along with their families over a five-day period and for the second year running, we incorporated a one-day workshop to the programme to widen the scope of engagements on autism diagnosis and management.