Support Therapy for Autistic Children in Senegal

Dear Project Supporters, 

Your support has made an impact for Autism therapy in Senegal.  Below is the update submitted from the Dakar Team. 

"Welcome to our first Project Report from the field, one of many to come!  As I write this, the new academic year is just starting in Dakar and our team members and students are all going through the usual September transitions. It was quite the busy summer, as we experienced transition out of school, into the home and community environments, and now back into a new school! We are currently in the process of moving into our new therapy location within the Senegalese-American Bilingual School (SABS) here in Dakar. They will be donating a "resource room" for us to use as we work with their students (and our own) throughout the next year, or until we are able to maintain our own space. 

This summer was exceptionally fulfilling. We could not be more proud of our small team and the gains we are making. I am especially proud of a student of ours, M., who has made exceptional gains in the last six months. Since April, he has gone from being functionally nonverbal to mastering "yes" and "no," making choices, and politely requesting a large variety of items that he likes (such as chips, YouTube videos, and favorite toys). During in-home therapy this summer, he has begun to learn to cook, and in the community, he has participated in roller skating and pottery lessons. He has also mastered some morning routines! With these new resources, he is beginning to find his voice and confidence in his own skills and autonomy, and these skills are coming fast! 

As for our own education, we will always seek to make further gains. Our distance coursework in ABA therapy will be finished soon, and our specialization training will begin. We are forever grateful for the kindness of those who work towards providing us with distance training at a great discount, as this would be an otherwise impossible task. As we move forward in our own training, we will document our progress with the hope of paving the way for others to follow. Our dream is to fund the training of individuals here who are interested in helping children on the spectrum learn and grow using proven methods. 

Thank you all for partnering with us, and thank you for your support."  -The Dakar Team 

Your ongoing support makes all the difference – you are truly making a difference for students with autism in the Dakar region of Senegal.  We encourage you to start a monthly recurring donation here.  Even a few dollars a month will go a long way.  Please also share this with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting this ongoing project.  

Your continued support is greatly appreciated!

Warm Regards,

The Dakar Team & Develop Africa Team