While there is increasing awareness of autism in the industrialized world, there is hardly any in developing countries. Autistic children in Uganda face a dearth of educational opportunities, and near-total ignorance by society about both their disadvantages and their capacities. Parents and family members have nowhere to turn for information and support as they struggle to meet the needs of their children. They often end up isolating themselves and suffer in silence.
In June 2006, Noerine Kaleeba’s daughter, Elizabeth, whose son is autistic, established the Komo Centre For Understanding Autism in Entebbe. The school is currently run on a "mainstreaming model," with 8 autistic children and 21 non autistic pre-school children whose presence stimulates integration and avoids isolation of autistic kids. The school presently offers the following services :
- A controlled environment where autistic children aged 4-13 years can learn, and improve their cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural skills.
- Opportunity for a small number of non-autistic pre-school children to interact with children with autism, promoting understanding of autism
- Respite, counseling, and peer support opportunities for parents and sibblings
- Resource centre for parents of autistic children
In addition, the Centre carries out a determined programme of advocacy to the general public, and in particular to health and education professionals. Last year, in commemoration of the World Autism Day the Centre’s coordinator and her son Komo were invited to appear on a talk show where autism was given a face. The Centre also printed 2000 leaflets that will be given out to the general public to increase awareness and understanding of autism and an article appeared in the Daily Monitor and the New Vision, both national Ugandan newspapers, describing the work of the Komo Centre.
More information: www.komocentre.org