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 behavioral 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 siblings.
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.

For more information, visit: www.komocentre.org

Mwangaza Inc.

Our mission is to support health-related projects in the developing world; particularly those that address the needs of physically disabled children. Our goal is responsible development through the support of grassroots, community-based projects that foster long-term self-sufficiency.

POAC (Parents of Autistic Children)

Parents Of Autistic Children (POAC), a nonprofit organization formed, is the educational leader for the autism community providing more free training than any other organization. Additionally, POAC provides recreational and support services to children with autism and their families. The costs of such services are prohibitive for most families. For this reason, POAC is deeply committed to providing all services at no cost to participants.

The needs of the autism population are ever growing. POAC is dedicated to meeting those needs and is continually expanding to help these children, adults, and their families where they are right now. To date, thousands of parents, teachers, and other service providers have been trained. Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders in every New Jersey county have been trained in autism recognition and response and in at least one case, the training has been life-saving. POAC has reached out to colleges and universities and provided course work to students studying to be special education teachers. All of this is accomplished without government funding, it is all done through the generosity of those who contribute to POAC fundraising activities. Making a difference in the lives of children now is at the heart of everything we do at POAC. For the thousands of children with autism who benefit from our services and programs every year, POAC has become a bastion of support and a beacon of hope.

For more information, visit: www.poac.net

SafeMinds (Sensible Action for Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders)

SafeMinds is a non-profit organization that was founded to help restore health and protect future generations by eradicating the devastation of autism and associated health disorders that are induced my mercury and other man made toxicants.

Some of the goals of SafeMinds are:

To eliminate mercury from all medical products, including vaccines, and substantially reduce other environmental exposures to mercury
To transform scientific understanding of the causes, time trends, and treatments of autism and other injuries related to mercury and other man made toxicants
To empower citizens to make informed choices about their health by providing information and alternatives to reduce the risk of autism and related health disorders

For more information, visit: www.safeminds.org

Alpine Learning Group

Alpine Learning Group's Education Program has grown steadily over the past 25 years and serves children with autism, ages 3 to 21 years as well as autistic adults. Alpine serves many families as part of their Outreach, Social Skills, and Early Detection Programs. Throughout Alpine Learning Group's growth, the organization's mission has remained constant to provide learners with autism and their families comprehensive, scientifically-validated educational and behavioral services designed to foster individual growth and personal achievement. With its state of the art center, dedicated staff, and resourceful program, Alpine Learning Group provides a successful experience for children and families living with autism.

For more information, visit: www.alpinelearninggroup.org

Generation Rescue

Generation Rescue is dedicated to recovery for children with autism spectrum disorders by providing guidance and support for medical treatment to directly improve the child’s quality of life for all families in need.

The continued support and guidance of Generation Rescue has gained international recognition for helping those who are affected by autism spectrum disorders and has provided many families with a voice to help find solutions to their struggles with autism.

For more information, visit: www.generationrescue.org

NVIC (National Vaccine Information Center)

NVIC is a national non-charitable, non-profit organization who advocates for the institution of vaccine safety and informed consent protections in the public health system. Their mission is dedicated to preventing injuries and deaths through public education and to defending the informed consent ethics in medicine. They do not advocate for or against the use of vaccines, but do support the availability of all preventive health care options and the right of consumers to make educated, voluntary health care choices.

NVIC provides assistance to those who have suffered vaccine reactions; promotes and funds research to evaluate vaccine safety and effectiveness, as well as to identify factors which place individuals at high risk for suffering vaccine reactions; and monitors vaccine research, development, regulation, policy-making and legislation. NVIC advocates that well-designed, independent, on-going scientific studies must be conducted to: (1) define the various biological mechanisms involved in vaccine injury and death: (2) identify genetic and other biological high risk factors for suffering chronic brain and immune system dysfunction after vaccination; and (3) evaluate short and long-term health outcomes of individuals, who use many vaccines, and those, who use fewer or no vaccines, to determine the health effects of vaccination on individuals and the public health.

NVIC works to protect the freedom for citizens to exercise the human right to voluntary, informed consent to any medical intervention or use of pharmaceutical product, such as a vaccine, which carries a risk of injury or death.

For more information, visit: www.nvic.org

Center For Personal Rights

The Center for Personal Rights is a leading non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to the protection of vaccination choice as an important human, civil and individual right. They believe that policies that promulgate compulsory vaccination in the absence of a legitimate public health emergency are unethical and misguided.

The Center for Personal Rights is committed to expanding the scholarship, understanding and awareness of the societal need for vaccination choice through grassroots outreach, social cause-driven networking, and institutional engagement.

They are an organization dedicated to maintaining the universal human rights standard of informed consent for all medical interventions and support the freedom to make personal health care decisions guided by the professionals of personal choice.

For more information, visit: http://centerforpersonalrights.com

My Goal Inc.

My Goal Autism is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for families who are facing autism. Through education, marriage counseling, and advocacy as they navigate through the complex challenges associated with the journey of autism from diagnoses to recovery or a better quality of life, My Goal Autism strives to educate and empower families and set the solid family as the foundation for recovery. My Goal Autism recognizes that when a child is faced with autism, it is necessary for the family to sustain through the journey and provides the resources and tools for families caring for individuals with autism. In addition, My Goal Autism seeks to help those with lower socioeconomic means or in under-served areas.

For more information, visit: www.mygoalautism.org

Saint Peter's Foundation

The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital is family-centered and understand the needs of a child with autism and the people around them. Using state-of-the-art technical assessments that incorporate ADI (Autism Diagnostic Interview), they develop a clearer picture of which treatment strategies to follow. In addition to their ongoing research, they are currently working with Rutgers University to discover the link to the genetics of autism as well as working with Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia and the National Institute of Health. Theirr goal is to support everyone who interacts with a child with autism: parents, siblings, pediatricians, nurses, teachers and more—all to help them better handle the day-to-day situations that may arise.

For more information, visit: http://www.saintpetershcs.com/Autism/

Kennedy Krieger Institute

The Kennedy Krieger Institute is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with pediatric developmental disabilities and disorders of the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal system, through patient care, special education, research, and professional training. The Institute offers a variety of innovative diagnostic and treatment services for children with autism spectrum disorders. Their interdisciplinary team of clinicians and therapists provide the latest treatment approaches proven in scientific studies at the Institute and research centers around the world. Physicians and researchers at Kennedy Krieger are also helping to drive forward the understanding and treatment of autism spectrum disorders through their participation in the Autism Treatment Network and the Interactive Autism Network, an innovative online project designed to accelerate the pace of autism research by linking researchers and those affected by autism spectrum disorders

For more information, visit: www.kennedykrieger.org

Marcus Autism Center Inc.

Marcus Autism Center is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to provide information, services and programs to children with autism and related disorders, their families and those who live and work with them. We offer integrated research opportunities, advanced clinical, behavioral, educational and family support services through a single organization to reduce the stress for families that use our services.

Since its inception, services were provided to more than 37,000 individuals, conducted research and provided education and training programs. Children with conditions, such as autism, mental illness, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and disruptive behaviors, are afforded some of the highest quality services one of the largest team of professionals and support staff solely dedicated to child development in Georgia.

For more information, visit: www.marcus.org

UC Davis MIND Institute

The UC Davis MIND Institute (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) is a collaborative international research center, committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care, and cure of neurodevelopmental disorders.

The MIND Institute is an international, multidisciplinary research organization, committed to excellence, collaboration and hope. Innovative treatment studies are being generated from the ground breaking research conducted at the MIND Institute. Utilizing the advanced biomedical technology and research infrastructure of the University of California, Davis, their scientists and clinicians pursue treatments and preventions that will ensure better futures for the one in twenty Americans with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Disorders such as fragile X syndrome, autism, ADHD, 22q11.2 deletion chromosome, and Tourette syndrome are increasingly recognized. At the MIND Institute, the “race is on” to identify the causes and develop better treatments, interventions, and preventions for the neurodevelopmental disorders that affect children and families around the world. The MIND Institute collaborates internationally with researchers, clinicians, and parents with a goal of finding effective treatments, preventions and cures for these disorders that have no boundaries and occur in all racial, ethnic and social groups.

For more information, visit: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/

UC Davis MIND Institute

The Midland Foundation

The Midland Foundation works with parents, families, foundations and corporations to raise funds to develop programs benefiting the School and its programs. With each innovative program we implement and each improvement made to our facilities, we provide additional opportunities for our students and graduates to grow and achieve more.

The Midland School is a New Jersey approved non-profit school for children with developmental disabilities. Serving approximately 215 students from public school districts throughout northern and central New Jersey, Midland provides a comprehensive special education program serving the individual social, emotional, academic, and career education needs of each of its students.

For more information, visit: http://midlandschool.org/midland-foundation/

Roses for Autism

Roses for Autism was the inspiration of a father of a teen with autism. Like many parents of children with disabilities, Jim Lyman dreamt of a future where his son, Eli, would have a meaningful job and continued opportunities to grow as an individual.

Through his work in agriculture Jim knew that local farmers were struggling to find qualified workers to keep their businesses alive. He had the vision to see a perfect opportunity for an innovative program that would meet the needs of both the autism and agricultural communities.

Roses for Autism not only provides individuals on the autism spectrum the chance to learn the skills necessary to maintain meaningful employment, but also serves as a model that can be replicated nationwide to develop unique opportunities for them as a whole new competitive workforce.

Started in 2009, Roses for Autism is the first business endeavor for Growing Possibilities, a nonprofit social enterprise founded by Ability Beyond Disability that is dedicated to growing independence in the business world for individuals with Autism and other disabilities.

For more information, visit: http://rosesforautism.com/

CHIP International, Inc

CHIP International, Inc is dedicated to opening a center for special needs children. Their goal is to aid in training individuals to teach children with Autism and spectrum disorders in order to provide these children with a successful educational experience where they can receive the help they need.

Autism Connects Tanzania

Autism Connects Tanzania is a non-profit organization striving to bring awareness and hope to children and families in Tanzania dealing with autism. Through funding, Autism Connects Tanzania makes it possible to provide various resources for families, teachers and healthcare professionals; support for children with autism and their families; educational seminars on autism and special needs; and the creation, printing and distribution of autism resources translated into Swahili.

For more information, visit: www.autismconnectstanzania.org

Flying Pup Production

Flying Pup Production, under the direction and production of Mary Olive Smith, specializes in documentary film production. Her most recent work includes a documentary following a special needs cheer/dance team located in Lyndhurst, NJ. The Sparks, a squad formed under Putting the Pieces Together was formed in addition to other teams to provide children with special needs the opportunity to be involved in recreational activities that in addition cater to their needs. The Sparks cheer/dance team is the first of its kind in the state of NJ and the girls ranging from the ages of 8-18 from all areas of the state have been recognized in various competitions and have won many awards. Mary Olive Smith is dedicated to telling their story.

For more information, visit: www.flyingpup.com

Hollyrod Foundation

Inspired by a father and a son, HollyRod Foundation was founded in 1997 by actress, author and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete and her husband former NFL great Rodney Peete. The HollyRod Foundation is dedicated to providing compassionate care to those living with Autism and Parkinson’s disease. Efforts of the HollyRod Foundation are providing a better quality of life for individuals and their families.

The HollyRod autism initiative is at work developing the Compassionate Care Center for Autism with the goal of making critically needed services accessible to the under-served autism community at little to no cost to families. The Center will be all inclusive providing diagnostic, therapeutic and support services to children on the autism spectrum and their families, encompassing a multi-disciplinary approach utilizing evidenced-based therapies along with more innovative options.

For more information, visit: www.hollyrod.org

The Darryl Strawberry Foundation

UJA- Federation of New York

Montefiore Medical Center

"** The information presented or linked to here is NOT medical advice and cannot be relied on as a substitute for such advice. No medical treatement should be avoided or attempted without prior consultation with a licensed physician. **"

La recherche sur l'autisme Inc. | 776 Mountain Blvd. Ste. 202 | Watchung, NJ 07069 | tel: 908.279.7881 |