As part of efforts to raise more public awareness on the medical condition known as Autism, Autistic Crusader and Africa’s only Autistic Cyclist, Young Phil Bertino, has organised the 3rd Edition of his annual Autism Awareness Through Cycling event.
This year’s and 3rd edition of the Autism Awareness through Cycling was on the theme: ‘Know Your Child’s Potentials.’
The event was successfully held on Saturday 23rd April 2022 with a cycling ride from the Adenta Municipality in Accra all the way to Kasoa Gomoa Nyanyano in the Central region.
It was organised by Liztino Center for Children with Special Needs, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Accra dedicated to and associated with issues on Autism.
According to Mrs. Angel Acquah Bertino, CEO of Liztino Center for Children with Special Needs, the NGO is doing something positive by creating Autism awareness by using Cycling sports.
Autism is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.
Some people may have a known difference, such as a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known.
Scientists believe there are multiple causes of Autism that act together to change the most common ways people develop.
People with Autism may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people.
There is often nothing about how they look that sets them apart from other people.
The abilities of people with Autism can vary significantly. For some people with Autism, they may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be non-verbal.
Some people with this condition need a lot of help in their daily lives; others can work and live with it with little or no support.
Hundreds of people thronged the final destination in Kasoa to catch a glimpse of Young Phil and a group of cyclists who rode rides all the way from Adenta.
Young Phil Bertino used the occasion to also donate books to some beneficiary schools.
Over 1,500 school children gathered including traditional authorities and leaders at the final destination.
In an interview with the media, Mrs. Angel Acquah Bertino revealed that it is not an easy task raising autistic children not even trying to raise one.
She said there was the need for Young Phil as being Autistic himself to demonstrate that one can be hopeful no matter his or her autistic condition.
“Phil is one of them and he has managed to recover and is back to raise more public awareness about Autism; we also want to use the donated books to be memorable in the sense that any time they chance on the book the school children will remember the Autistic Phil Bertino.”
She further encouraged and assured parents struggling to raise Autistic children that her organization Liztino Center for Children with Special Needs, has come to their rescue.
“We want to assure parents with Autistic children that the center is opened to them; there is hope since any of such conditions can be worked out to bring far better improvements.”
She also hinted of advanced plans to rotate the event around other regions of Ghana.
