we are excited to have you join us in being a voice for

We are excited to have you join us in being a voice forpeople living with Autism and other developmental disorders.

The theme for this year is Autism - Focusing on Similarities Instead of Differences” and like every other year, it is inspired by the very question that compelled us to start the Autism conference 10 years ago…

www.gtbank.com/autism

to be a Voice for people

living with Autism

What Does It Really Mean

Over the years, we have found that there are many answers to this question, but one answer that stands out is that being a voice for people living with autism is about listening to them and learning from the health experts about how to make their lives better.

We cannot effectively tear down the layers of discrimination and stigma that people living with autism face if we do not make out time to listen to them. We cannot build the personal, communal and institutional support that people living with Autism need to reach their full potential, if we do not learn how Autism affects millions of people around the world and thousands of families around us.

Hence, to effectively do the work of listening and learning, we must start thinking about Autism more in terms of Similarities, what we have in common with people living with Autism, than differences.

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10th Annual Autism Conferrence


Welcome to the

10th AnnualAutism Conferrence


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For us at GTBank, this theme is also about the urgent need for action. With the Covid-19 pandemic causing a severe strain on our lives and livelihoods, people living with autism and their families need our support and solidarity now more than ever. It is the reason we dug in to make sure the Annual Autism Programme goes ahead this year, despite the logistical challenges.

This year’s programme will hold virtually. Our Autism conference will be live-streamed, allowing for anyone, anywhere, to join in and participate. There will be a series of panel discussions and keynote presentations on Autism by globally renowned medical specialists, all of which we are hosting online. Children and their parents will also have

the opportunity to attend one-on-one consultations with medical experts whilst members of the public can take part in special webinar sessions to learn more about Autism.

As an organization, we will continue to strengthen this Annual Autism Programme which has, over the decade, become a major source of support for children and adults living with Autism and their families. I am very grateful that we can count on your support in this mission. Together, let us create a society that is safe and filled with support for people living with Autism.

Thank you.

Dear Attendee,

If you are reading this, then we have something very important in common - we care about making the world a better place for children and adults living with Autism.

In a world where the focus often tends to be on our differences, no matter how little, I am pleased to welcome you to a programme that is built on the values we share, whether as parents going above and beyond to not let their child’s autism limit them, caregivers and health experts working round the clock to make life easier for those who learn differently, or organizations and individuals passionate about being a voice for people often the margins of society. We are honoured to put this programme together for you, and most importantly, for all those who live through the challenges of Autism in their everyday lives.

Ten years ago we started the Annual Autism Programme to build a more inclusive and supportive society for children and adults living with autism. Since then, we have seen

a steady increase in the social consciousness around Autism and a significant improvement in the support systems and structures available to people with Autism and other developmental disorders. However, we have also seen the critical gaps in care and access to opportunities that persist for people living with autism.

These gaps have been made more acute by the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, which we can only overcome by working together to look out for everyone, especially those on the margins of society. This is why we have selected Autism - Focusing on Similarities Instead of Differences as the theme of this year’s conference.

Focusing on similarities instead of differences is fundamentally about empathy. It calls on us to not only relate to the struggles of others, but also to lend our voice to amplify theirs.


Instead of Differences

Focusing onsimilarities

We are all born different. However, in our array of differences, there are common similarities that binds us together.

We all have dreams, aspirations, goals, and even fears.

But often times when we think about people living with Autism, we fail to recognize these common human similarities. We also fail to acknowledge that for people living with Autism to live happy lives and reach their fullest potential, they, just like anyone else, need the right kind of environment and right kind support to thrive.

Focusing on similarities instead of differences is about empathy. It is about humanizing children and adults living with Autism; creating an environment where they are accepted not just tolerated; and a world where they are empowered with all the support and resources that they need to reach their full potential.

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The conference features presentations and keynote addresses from leading experts in Autism. Some of the facilitators for this year’s programme include Dr. Andy Shih, a Senior Vice President at Autism Speaks, Loretta Burns the Founder and CEO of an Advanced Behaviour and Education Clinic in the USA and Brooke Ingersoll, Associate Professor and Director of the Autism Lab at Michigan State University, USA.

the keynote speakers and facilitators of the conference

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Pamela J. Dixon, PhD. is the Director of Clinical Services and Inclusion at Autism Speaks. She also serves as the technical lead for its Caregiver Skills Training Program, which provides training to caregivers of children with developmental disorders.

Maleshwane Maucois the first board certified registered Behavior Analyst in Southern Africa. She has over 14 years of experience consulting in Autism, Severe Special Needs, Learning Difficulties, and Staff Training & Behavior Management.

Andy Shih, PhD.is the Senior Vice President of Public Health and

Inclusion at Autism Speaks. He also leads the organization’s research program in the field of

Autism and genetics.

Lanre Duyile

is the President and CEO of Behaviorprise Consulting Inc. in Toronto, Canada. He plays

a critical role in creating evidence-based behavioral treatment to improve the lives of

people living with developmental disabilities.

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Dr Brooke Ingersollis an associate professor of clinical

psychology and the director of the MSU Autism Research Lab. She is also a licensed psychologist and board certified behavior

analyst.

Chinye Nolisais the Clinical and Executive Director of Direct

Behavioral Services based in New York and Massachusetts, United States of America. She

has over fifteen years of experience working with individuals with autism, and

other developmental disorders.

Adegboyega A. Otubanjois a Nigerian born licensed Speech

Language Pathologist based in Staten Island, New York.

Dr. Agboola Paul is the Head of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. He provides general mental health services and training to children and adults living with autism and other disorders.

Jacqueline Mathagaor Jaki as she prefers is the founding Trustee of Arthur’s Dream Autism Trust. She and her team champion Programs in Education, Health and Disability Inclusion.

Adedotun Akandeis the Founder and Director of Patrick Speech and Languages Centre, Lagos Nigeria. Patricks is the pioneer Special Needs Centre for the education of children with Autism.

Dr. Anna Lamikanra Has dedicated years to building connections and networks to raise awareness for Autism, developmental disabilities, mental health disorders, and universal education for all around the world.


Loretta Burns, PhD.Is the founder of the Advanced Behaviour & Educational Clinics Foundation. For over 28

years Dr. Burns has focused her attention on building awareness and treatment based

interventions in the field of neurodevelopmental and cognitive disorders such as autism.

Kim Kaiseris the Program Director for The Color of

Autism Foundation. She has over 30 years’ of experience in training, system navigation,

educational advocacy, parent education and support.

Jeannette WashingtonJeannette Washington, is a speech therapist

and software engineer. She empowers people living with autism to gain skills and build

capacity in tech and other industries.

Daisy JonathanDaisy is an Applied Behaviour Analyst, Autism Specialist, Board-Certified Cognitive Specialist and an Autism Services Practitioner-Supervisor. She is also the founder of Autism and Special Needs Support Africa (ASNSA).

Camille Proctor is the Founder and Executive Director of The Color of Autism Foundation, a US based national Non-Profit organization she founded in 2009. Her organization focuses on self efficacy and advocacy which supports individuals living with autism.

Solape AzaziSolape Azazi is a lifelong advocate for people

living with ASD and the Executive Director & Founder of Cradle Lounge, a holiday club for all children to explore their creativity through

arts & craft.

Tomi Agboola-Odeleye

is a Speech and Language Therapist at the University College of London. She works with

children and adults and also helps design programmes for speech therapy.

Lohren Nzoma Senior Executive Director of Exceptional Student Education - the largest school district in the state of Michigan. Prior to this role, Ms. Nzoma served as the Deputy Executive Director of Gifted & Talented Education for the same district.

Kara Banksis a certified Speech Language Pathologist with 10 years of experience in providing services to students with developmental disabilities.


A trip down Memory Lane

Last year, we held an inspiring and amazing conference. Hundreds of experts, caregivers and concerned members of the public joined us to Be a Voice for children and adults living with Autism.

You can watch the highlights of the conference here.

Last year, we also made a short film in honor of World Autism Awareness Day and as part of the our continued effort in addressing the neglect and stigmatization of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Nigeria. The film tells the story of a young boy growing up with autism and the impact of the condition on his family as they raise him.

The 9th Annual Autism Conference

Watch Our Short Film,A Mother Knows.

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#BeAVoice

A Platform for Enriching Lives

Weekend and the GTBank Food and Drink Festival, are driving the growth of Africa’s fashion and food industries and helping to create new and global opportunities for the continent’s incredibly young population.

We are also passionate champions and enduring patrons of a wide range of Social Responsibility causes. We strongly believe that of far greater importance to us, beyond providing first class service, is the role we play in improving access to Education, driving Community Development, promoting the Arts and and protecting the Environment.

Over the years, we have has been the recipient of numerous notable awards for product and service innovation, corporate social responsibility and world class governance standards. In 2019, GTBank was recognized as the Best Bank in Africa and Best Bank in Nigeria, by the Euromoney Magazine and the Best Banking Group and Best Retail Bank Nigeria by World Finance Magazine. In the same year, GTBank also dominated the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS) Efficiency Awards for the third year in row, taking home 8 of the 12 honours for banks at the forefront of driving the digitization of financial services.

Ultimately, our vision is to build an enduring Proudly African and Truly International Institution that plays a fundamental role as a Platform for Enriching Lives by building strong, value adding relationships with our customers, stakeholders and the communities in which we operate.

Thank you for joining us in Being

a Voice for people living with Autism!

We hope your Advocacy doesn’t stop hereSee you at the conference next year!

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. (GTBank) is a multinational financial institution that provides individuals, businesses, private and public institutions across Africa and the United Kingdom with a broad range of market-leading financial products and services. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria and with subsidiaries in Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, the Bank currently employs over 12,000 professionals and has an Asset Base of over N3.5trillion.

At GTBank, we constantly strive to create the best outcomes for our customers and communities. Our strong service culture, efficient management, world class corporate governance standards and bias for innovation has enabled us maintain consistent year on year growth in customer base and profitability since inception. As a Proudly African and Truly International Institution, we are fully invested in powering our continent’s progress. We are at the forefront of promoting enterprise and empowering small businesses, and our free business platforms, the GTBank Fashion


we are excited to have you join us in being a voice for

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