In October I will be volunteering my time and skills to educate teachers and families in Bangalore, India about effective methods for helping children on the autism spectrum. It’s what I’ve been doing for the past few years, where children have resources such as funding, a general population with an awareness and understanding about the disorder, and trained professionals to deliver impactful treatment. This is not the case in Bangalore, India and other developing countries. The Global Autism Project, a non-profit organization, is addressing a global health crisis by providing a sustainable model: they provide training and education to local teachers, monitor their progress, increase awareness among the general population, and watch the growth and change!
“Before you can support the mission, you must
first understand the problem…”
What’s the problem?
The problem is there are 70 million people living in the world with autism today and 85% of them are living in developing countries. There is a severe lack of resources resulting in:
· Late identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
· Teachers who have not been properly trained as service providers
· Ostracism of those living with autism, that leaves families over-burdened and isolated from their community
What are the facts?
· Autism has been recognized as one of the most significant public health issues by the United Nations and the World Health Organization. It has been regarded as a “global health crisis”
· Early identification is necessary for early intervention, which research has shown leads to improved outcomes for children with autism
· Children in the United States and other highly resourced countries receive a diagnosis between 18 months and 3 years old. Children in countries with fewer resources receive a diagnosis between 6 and 8 years old
· The BCBA certification guarantees that you have met the standards to provide quality, scientifically proven, and effective services for children with autism
· There are 33,353 certified behavior analysts in the world and only 42 of them are in India
How am I helping to solve this problem?
As a Registered Behavior Therapist, I was chosen to travel with Skillcorps, to work at a site called ASHA. Skillcorps has had an established relationship with this center since 2019. Making it one of their newest sites. Our team will provide direct, hands-on training to teachers and caregivers, as well as promote awareness and acceptance in the community.ASHA currently has 82 students and is actively expanding their reach to increase awareness in their community through outreach efforts and community events. They have recently opened a half day early intervention program in which guardians come and help prompt their child.
Your donations go directly to my trip and the autism center, ASHA, in India so that I can help teachers gain access to the knowledge and experience that I have spent the last few years cultivating. It is 100% tax deductible. Please support my mission. My goal for this mission to become reality is $5000. Any little bit helps!
To learn more about The Global Autism Project visit: https://www.globalautismproject.org
Thank you in advance for your support in making my mission a reality!
Sincerely,
Kaylee Ramirez
Autism Acceptance Around the Globe 