Community Outreach

Hanna Wolde, M.S., BCBA and our Clinical Director, recently visited Ethiopia. It was an absolute pleasure for her to visit Nehemiah Autism Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and meeting the wonderful director, staff, and all the children in the autism spectrum disorder. Nehemiah is a non-profit organization who provides instruction, care, emotional support, counseling, and guidance to the children and families they serve. There is no option for Specialized Instruction or Special Education in the public and private schools in Addis Ababa; and therefore, the center serves as their primary and only educational setting. Without the center, who can only accommodate/serve 40 children at the time of our visit, these children would have been cared for by their families at home without any opportunity for school instruction or to socialize with anyone outside of their home.

All of the services provided by the center including transportation, clothing, teaching materials, care, instructions, counseling, etc. are free of charge for the families. Consequently, the center depends on donations, sponsorship of a child, and by conducting various fundraising to continue providing instruction and care for these children. On behalf of Learning ARTS, we were able to donate necessary and difficult to obtain teaching materials and toys that are extremely beneficial to the children in the center. For more information or if interested in donating to the center, you may visit their website:
www.nehemiah-autism.org.