Fourteen-year-old Phil Bertino, is the first child of Mr Phil Bertino and Mrs Elizabeth Acquah Bertino.

He was born healthy and grew up with no sign of abnormality but his development took a different turn at age six when he was diagnosed to be autistic.

The signs had started when he was about two years old. The one letter words he could pronounce had disappeared and he was only making unintelligible sound.

When the condition started worsening at age three, his parents sought medical attention and were advised to enroll him in a speech therapy. He enrolled for six months but there was no remarkable progress.

His parents, determined to ensure he grew up a ‘normal child,’ tried other medical and spiritual remedies but eventually had to come to terms with the reality that Phil was, indeed, autistic.

The knowledge of the condition and the fact that it has no cure was unbearable for the couple but this did not crush Phil’s dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

In September this year, he was part of over 70 professional riders at the 17th edition of the Teshie Homowo Cycling Challenge.

He put up a splendid performance to finish his 76km race in 2:45:33secs with an average speed of 27.56km/h, received massive cheers for his effort, and was presented with a special trophy, medal and jersey for his achievement on the day.

Autism Journey

Mrs Bertino, speaking about her son’s autism journey in an interview with The Spectator, said that they consulted a number of people for advice and were led to one professor who claimed he had a cure.

However, after relying on the professor’s expensive and imported supplements for some time, there was no result.

According to her, although there was some improvement in other medical and herbal options they tried, the effect on the autism symptoms was minimal.

The search for solutions led Mrs Bertino to discover a ‘touch-based’ remedy which she applied leading to Phil’s massive improvement.

She subsequently formed the Liztino Centre for Children with Special Needs to help parents who have autistic children with young Phil as a case study.

Challenges

She said that some of the challenges the condition presented included Phil’s inability to express himself verbally and understand whatever was said to him.

“He was hyperactive as he could not sit for a moment or concentrate on any subject. There was also attention deficit as he was easily distracted and could not focus on one thing at a time.  He sometimes left the house unnoticed and would be missing, and on one of such situations, he was found the next day after he got missing,” she noted.

In addition to other complications, Phil used to “fear certain colours and objects and could not remember what he was taught the next minute,” according to his mother.

Academically, he had to change five schools within a short time as teachers and school authorities found it difficult to cope with his disturbing condition.

Improvement

Mrs Bertino said that the symptoms of autism stated above had “gradually vanished.”

“Our stress as parents has been significantly eliminated and Phil is virtually independent. He has developed interest in cycling and undertaken various trips over long distances to create autism awareness,” she emphasised.

Phil is now an Autism Ambassador and celebrated across the country which he continues to give hope to other children and parents. Aside cycling, he plays tennis, basketball and is a good swimmer also.

Mrs Bertino, urged parents with autistic children to get them involved in sports as it contributed to their overall development and management of the disorder.

“Parents should avoid locking up such children in their rooms as they could be useful when supported and provided with the necessary things as any other child.

“The acceptance of autistic children in Africa is not the best and efforts must be made to raise the awareness so they would be considered part of society,” she said.

Appeal

While urging society to be supportive of children with autism, she further called on government and other stakeholders to “go beyond policies on paper and do more to support children with autism.”

Mrs Bertino, said that plans were far advanced for Phil to travel outside the country and compete in cycling as he had developed very fast and could challenge for laurels.

“Phil is good and can do well and possibly become a champion in cycling in the near future. Such children should not be hidden but rather be exposed to sporting activities and be nurtured to develop like any other talented children,” she stressed.

By Michael D. Abayateye