YOU DO NOT A HAVE PAYPAL?

WORRY NOT,

DONATE THROUGH BANK

Bank Name: Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB)

Account Name: Dazzling Center for Autism

Account Number: 1241385394

DONATE THROUGH MPESA:

Paybill: 522522

Account number: 1241385394

CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION

Autism is a lifelong complex developmental disorder that impairs a person’s area of social communication, interaction, and imagination. Typically, it appears during the first three years of a child’s life and affects more boys than girls (by a ratio of 4:1). Autism has no known cause or cure but has a number of management interventions that may help children affected with autism spectrum disorder to acquire a quality of life -- particularly when the condition is diagnosed early and appropriate intervention strategies are effected.

The essential features of a person within the Autism Spectrum Disorder are the presence of markedly abnormal or impaired development in imagination, social interaction and communication and a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interest. Many children do not develop speech at all, and those who do may not use it to communicate. Much bizarre and ritualistic behavior accompanies autism, and often these behaviors include self-injurious habits such as head banging. These particular problems, typical of autism, have led to a widespread and very unfortunate assumption that people with autism are not complete human beings and, therefore, do not have the same rights as other people. Autism affects all individuals differently and in varying degrees.

Numerous cases of children with autism have been reported through electronic or Print Media in Kenya, where Parents/Guardians have resorted to chaining or locking up their loved ones due to a lack of information. In Kisii specifically, any case of disability is associated with witchcraft and curse and for autism, it becomes worse as it is a hidden disability and through the fact that it is a less known condition. As a result, most families end up broken as women are chased away from there homes and even if they are not, they end up shouldering the problem alone as men tend to take off.

In addition, the discrimination and stigmatization associated with the condition is at its highest in our society. For the few parents that have accepted and ready to help their kids, they are forced to make long distance travel of over 350 km to access the support services that autistic kids require not forgetting to mention that there are no appropriate schools/centers around for autistic. Thus, the constitutional and human rights of freedom of movement, right to associate, right to appropriate intervention and education are grossly violated.

PROBLEM SOLUTION

Dazzling center for autism is a non-profit center for children with autism in Kisii County. (https:/youtu.be/OTVxOAG7uLQ).The center would offer an individualized education plan and variety of services for the clientele at a subsidized fee, including occupational therapy and speech & language therapy sessions for children diagnosed with autism and any other associated conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, speech delays, hearing problems, ADHD, and Down syndrome among others.

The center is actively engaged in local awareness-raising actions to promote the earlier diagnosis of autism and raise parents’ awareness of warning symptoms. This year, for instance, we joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Autism Awareness Day for the first time ever in the region. (check out facebook@dazzcenter). The center will equally endeavor at providing weekly parenting workshops/training sessions with therapists and, if possible, run a self-help support group for people living with autism. Bearing in mind that kids might have other conditions that are similar or closely related to autism, the center will purpose to have units that will be handling other disabilities with similar characteristics.

To achieve that, we are requesting for funds to acquire and equip the center with appropriate learning, therapeutic, and sensory materials and equipment bearing in mind that play, occupational therapy, sensory integration, speech & language therapy, music, and water therapy are all essential for an autistic child. With these, we will be in a position to enhance the lives of autistic children fast-tracking their chances of being integrated into the mainstream and hence, having a potential of living a fulfilling life exploiting the world to their fullest.