Meeting the Needs of Children and Families with Communication and other Developmental Difficulties in Accra, Ghana—An Assessment of the AwaaWaa2 Community-based Program

Abstract

The families of children living with communication and developmental difficulties in Ghana face challenges in accessing quality care. In the absence of an organized governmental response to the needs presented by these children, a handful of grassroots providers has formed what may be described as an emerging special needs child serving system. This qualitative study looks at the lived experiences of nine families raising children with a range of communication and other developmental difficulties. In-depth interviews were conducted through a collaborative effort between AwaaWaa2, a local community-based organization providing provisional services to children, and the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research. Results indicate that families are finding innovative ways of meeting the needs of their children. A comparison with an assessment conducted in 2006 was done. Partnerships like the one forged between these two organizations are a potential tool in awareness raising and advocacy. Implications for global and grassroots community level collaboration are discussed.

Self-help and help-seeking for communication disability in Ghana: implications for the development of communication disability rehabilitation services

“…This is consistent with responses, described as behavioural, in Fijian research [ 46 ]. Development of positive attitudinal responses to communication disability are important as communication disability has been associated with stigma in Ghana [ 73 ]. Communication disability rehabilitation services, including SLPs, in LMICs are likely to need to adopt broader roles in supporting PWCD than their counterparts in HICs, which may include awareness raising and activism [ 20 ].…”

Communication disability in low and middle-income countries: a call to action

“… 19 Community stigma remains a barrier to improving participation and inclusion for PWCD in LMICs. 2 Organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs), influential community members and community organisations, can all support communities to enhance participation, inclusion and the realisation of communication rights. 19 …”

“…To achieve equity in health and disability services, communication disability needs foregrounding, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where formal supports for PWCD are limited or non-existent and stigma is widespread. 2 It is time to put the needs of PWCD on the agenda.…”