This project will build a therapy and learning center in northern Manabi, Ecuador, where 300+ children with autism and Down syndrome from low-income families and nearby rural communities can receive early diagnosis, specialized therapies, TEACCH-based learning support, and family guidance. Your donation helps turn donated land into a safe space where children's needs are understood, where they can build communication, learning, and daily living skills, and thrive with dignity.
In northern Manabi and nearby rural communities, many autistic children and children with Down syndrome lack access to professional diagnosis, early support 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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