Many autistic children and children with Down syndrome in northern Manabi-Ecuador, grow up without access to early diagnosis, specialized therapy or inclusive learning support. Pasos de Luz Foundation is building a community-based Therapy and Learning Center where children can develop communication, independence, emotional regulation, and life skills. We already have the land. Your donation helps turn this space into the first functional phase of a center where kids can learn and be supported.
In Bahia de Caraquez and nearby rural communities, many autistic children and children with Down syndrome lack access to early intervention and inclusive education. Many of them experience high levels of discrimination and exclusion. Families often cannot afford private services or travel long distances for help. Without timely support, children may miss key opportunities to develop communication, self-regulation, independence, and school readiness.
This project will help build the first functional phase of a community-based Therapy and Learning Center. The center will offer early intervention, communication support, life-skills learning, and family guidance in a safe, sensory-friendly space. Using TEACCH-based strategies, visual supports, and predictable routines, children will learn, feel safer, and become more independent.
This center will give children access to the early support they need to communicate, learn, regulate emotions, and gain independence. It will also support parents and caregivers, especially mothers, who often carry the emotional and economic burden alone. Over time, the project will help create a more inclusive community in Manabi, where autistic children and children with Down syndrome are not hidden, excluded, or left behind.
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