Joy center for Autism in Ethiopia plans to expand its current programs and build a center of excellence that will serve 500 children with Autism and related developmental disorders. The center will be an ideal facility to create access for the rehabilitation , educational and therapeutic services for children with autism in Ethiopia.
There are an estimated 600,000 children in Ethiopia living with Autism. Due to lack of public awareness about the disorder, lack of focus from the government, lack of interest on the part of professionals to work on the issue and the prevalence of misguided backward believes in the community about the disorder, these children are often chained in their houses and denied access to services that tend to their needs.Joy center provides an educational, therapeutic and joyful space for 500 children.
Our project of building a center of excellence gives 500 enrolled children accesses to state of the art therapy (speech therapy, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy... ), provides group homes for independent living for adults with autism, research and training center that will produce qualified professionals and new strides in the field, training center for parents and a therapeutic center for additional children (not enrolled in the center) with autism and related developmental disorders.
This project will put 500 children with autism in a center that tends to their specific needs along with a living area providing them a brighter and supported future. It will also train many professionals in the field who will be able to put to practice their education in other centers and schools for this special kids. We expect to create a ripple effect in the country and we will be able to tend to all children in Ethiopia living with Autism.