Every once in a while I think about the fact that, living in a developed country, we have so many autism resources available to us that are not available in developing countries. And not only resources, but the knowledge itself. The knowledge about autism. We know that it is not the mother’s fault. We know that the child is not possessed by demons. We know it is a neurological disorder and have the resources to obtain necessary therapy, treatment, and education. But others less fortunate do not.

And so I would like to highlight a very special organization, one that I am excited to have found out about, and one that I already feel so passionate about. Knowledge for People is a new non-profit whose focus is to provide  autism education to families and teachers in developing countries. This is their mission statement:

In many parts of the world, there is an extremely limited understanding of autism. Many communities and rural villages in developing countries lack adequate resources and are often unaware the disorder exists, even though it is occurring in children and adults around them. People see the symptoms and effects of autism, but often don’t know what is wrong or how to help.

Our goal is to provide these communities with a greater understanding of autism, its effects, and ways to manage its effects. Through outreach, education, and support, individuals with autism in developing countries around the world will be better understood, accepted, and integrated into their respective communities. Understanding of autism can positively affect families, schools, and the societies as a whole.

Knowledge for People’s first project is to do an outreach educational program in Nepal this summer. They will be working with parents and teachers to provide basic autism education and also to provide behavioral strategies, sensory ideas, etc. They will also be giving presentations, conducting individual case studies, and possibly doing a radio/TV broadcast. They are looking for volunteers who are knowledgeable about autism to go to Nepal with them, specifically speech and behavioral therapists. If you fall into this category and have the last two weeks of July open, please email: info @ knowledgeforpeople.org. They need your help!

Imagine having a child with autism but not knowing what autism is or how to help your child . . . Imagine not having services at school for your child . . . Imagine your child not being accepted into the community because people are unaware of autism . . . These are just a few reasons why Knowledge for People is so important. I hope you’ll join me in supporting them.