Tell us about your center

We wanted to establish the center because there was not a favorable environment for autistic children in Ethiopia. Children with autism are still the most forgotten and vulnerable ones of all. The majority of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational and vocational fields are still unaware of how autism affects people and how to effectively work with individuals with autism. As a result, children with autism have been deprived of the opportunities to gain or improve their academic, social and communication skills.
Parents of autistic children do not have information about the symptoms. Most mothers are single handedly crying in the dark. They do not feel at ease to talk about their children openly and instead, feel guilty and ashamed of their children due to social pressures and misconceptions in the society. For this reason, thousands of children with autism are hidden in their homes with out access to education and or rehabilitation.
Being a mother of an autistic child, I had faced overwhelming senses of confusion, denial and frustration. At the same time, I was determined to accept and face reality. I have faced many challenges but I was fortunate. I am thankful to have been able to have afforded and then pooled my resources together to help improve the future of my child and also other children in the same condition. Today, I have a happy 16 year old child and more than 45 precious children in the joy center who have made tremendous progress socially and personally.
I decided to open the center since I wanted to give the same opportunity for autistic children in Ethiopia and to relief their mothers who have been suffering . Most of all, autism is a major problem that has not been publicized in our country, I wanted to create public awareness which J-CCARDD is committed to promoting awareness and advocacy to stop stigma and fight against social exclusion, discrimination and physical confinement of autistic children. J-CCARDD believes every child deserves every opportunity to develop his or her potentials and become self-sufficient.

What causes autism? Many believe that it is connected with evil spirits or from close-kin inter marriage. How do you view this? How many autistic children are there in Ethiopia?
There is not a definitive answer as to what brings on autism. The exact cause of autism is still a mystery. Medical research shows that hereditary disorder; neurological problems, chemical imbalance, environmental factors such as infections and toxic chemicals, vaccines and other possibilities such as Celiac disease, Rubella, cyclomegalo virus, untreated phenylkeonuria etc. are important in the search for the cause of autism. Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder which affects the way the brain uses information. It is best described as a neurological dysfunction. Thus, sights, sounds, tastes and feelings may be experienced very differently. The word autism refers to the tendency to withdraw into oneself ignoring much of what goes on in the environment. This results in severe differences of social relationships, communication and behavior:
Autism can be confirmed around 2 years of age. Common indicators can be appearing "spaced out", stuttering, excessive whining and crying, aggression, depression, headaches, nausea and bed wetting.
I totally disagree that it is a spiritual cause or resulting from close inter marriage. These are false assumptions. Adequate studies have not been conducted. However, I can say that there are thousands of autistic children confined in the dark rooms, in monasteries and other places.

Many autistic kids have certain special capabilities. How do you explain that?
Quite often, children with autism have no physical disabilities and appear "normal" but react differently to ordinary situations. Some have different skills in one or more areas of cognitive development.
Individuals with autism have extreme difficulty in social and communication skills. In addition, they have difficulty in making sense of the world in the way most would.
Not all of them have a special gift but about 10% of them are amazingly blessed. The kids are naturally talented. For instance, the child can draw an exact copy of an image or can express themselves by painting. Moreover, I can say they have fertile imaginations. They can be good in science or calculations faster than an adding machine. They can be good in sport or in music like Mozart was.
It is important to distinguish autism form mental retardation or other disorders since diagnostic confusion may result in referral to inappropriate and ineffective treatment techniques.
What kinds of conditions or facilities do you provide for these kids? Do you have doctors especially trained to treat autistic children?
We give holistic therapy, behavioral modification, sensory integrating therapy, self help skills and many more. First we identify each child’s behavior of need and for that we first diagnose the child.
A full time psychologist and the Technical Wing of J- CCARDD", which includes a Psychiatrist, Neurologist, Developmental Pediatrician, Psychologists, Linguist and a special needs educator assist the centre. The 20 devoted social workers and educators get short-term regular training in the area and are assets of the center.

How can autism be treated?
Even though there is no known cure for autism, it can be treatable. Autistic individuals can be assisted to fulfill their unique potential and lead a happier and more productive life.
Research indicates that the most successful method for treating and educating autistic individuals involves structured and intensive behavioral intervention programs, proper diet, reduction of pollution and detoxifying. With proper treatment, persons with autism can function better at home and in the community and eventually become more responsive to others. They can lead nearly normal lives.
Research and case studies believe that dairy products except for low fat soured products (cottages, yogurt) and certain foods including barely, wheat and oats, contribute to autistic behaviors. Many parents of autistic children have removed them from their children's diet and have, in many cases, observed positive changes in health and behavior:
Children with autistic spectrum disorder may benefit from taking vitamin B6, magnesium and DMG as well as other nutrients vital to biochemical reactions in the body. One theory is that many children with autism may have leaky gut syndrome and are unable to absorb nutrients from their diet sufficiently. Studies show a significant number have been found to have gastrointestinal disorders including celiac disease and other food intolerances. It is suggested that autistic people should not go with out food. Eating frequent small meals daily is better than eating two or three large meals. Taking enzymes can help them digest food more easily.
In addition, individuals with autism can benefit by eating a high fiber diet such as raw foods, including large amounts of fruits and vegetables, lentils and potatoes. And for protein; beans, fish, skinless white chicken breast, and low -fat yogurt. It is beneficial to eliminate caffeine, wheat and wheat products, canned and packed foods, refined and processed foods, salt, sugar, sweets, saturated fats and soft drinks. Autistic children should avoid foods that contain artificial colors preservatives, fatty and fried foods.
Parents can use an elimination diet to test for food allergies, which can aggravate the condition. Drinking steam-distilled water, getting regular moderate exercise is all beneficial. Individuals within autism spectrum disorder often enjoy the same recreational activities as their peers without autism. They usually like swimming, hiking, working on puzzles, table games, biking, and etc.

In your opinion, do you think you have achieved your goals, especially in creating public awareness? What are your future plans?

Well, I can say that I am satisfied with what we have done so far. We rejoiced its 5th year achievement celebration at the EU delegate’s residence. The celebration was enlightened with an auction and with the display of 50 paintings by three artists (Derege Tilahun, Dawit Yitbarek and Genet Tilahun). The money collected from the art work ( 25% from the sales) and the auction is marked for the centre. We have seen a 13-year-old girl talking for the first time. However, we need to do much more. We are still struggling. We are trying to make ourselves professional in order to help the kids. In terms of creating awareness, I can say we have done some work and we receive many phone calls from different towns. Partners telling us about their autistic child after they have seen us on TV or read on newspapers. We are planning to work in partnership with UNICEF and of course with the government and concerned organizations. With financial support and with dedication, considerably more can be done. The condition of autistic children can be improved but they still need assistance as they grow. It is important to make this center a larger institution.