What We Do

Our Intervention

Dietary Intervention

Dietary intervention is one of the therapies which have shown positive consistent results in management of autism spectrum disorder. Children with Autism require a special diet of foods without wheat (Gluten) and milk products (Casein). When fed with ordinary meals they regress in growth and behavior making life unbearable for their parents and siblings and the community. We intent to increase the number of Poultry, pigs and indigenous vegetables on our Shamba which will significantly lower the cost special diet we incur.

Five Autism Therapies

For the therapist to make their fine motors relax and motor skills strengthened, we employ different therapeutic approaches that include but not limited to: Occupational, Music, creative arts, indoor and outdoor experiential therapy games. However lack of essential equipment has minimized our effectiveness.

TAFI Apprenticeship Training Model

Some women who bring their children to our Centre have little or no skills that can aid them to get a job or even start a business. Apprentice Training Model (ATM) is a life skills training methodology there a mentee (Apprentice) is attached to a mentor who is skilled and knowledgeable in a given area of interest s/he gets trained in the same field. ATM is preferred because the beneficiaries are asked to enumerate the marketable skills which are selected and clustered accordingly.

What we Do

Health

Autism is a misunderstood condition in Kenya, and in Africa in general. Lack of awareness limits access to appropriate services that may improve quality of life and prognosis in children affected by autism. In addition, parents of children with autism face challenges such as single parenting or divorce, childcare needs and lack of financial resources, all of which have negative effects. TAFI is a pioneer safe space for children with disability and provides basic care to children with Autism hailing from poor families in Kajiado and Nairobi Counties. TAFI also advocates for reduction of child and infant mortality, improvement of maternal health, reproductive health and addressing other health issues such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV prevention and family planning in the community. The organization undertakes awareness in schools as well as campaigns against malaria as measures of prevention.

Advocacy

The object of autism advocacy is not a world without autistic people but a world in which autistic people can enjoy the same rights, opportunities and quality of life as any other human being. TAFI primary mandate is to advocate for the rights of people with Autism and create awareness in the community. The organization is in the forefront in sensitizing the community to embrace Autism through working in partnership with other stakeholders and the county government. The organization capacity built caregivers through counseling and economic empowerment programs which offers solace as well as prepares them to be more sensitive of the child’s needs. They are trained on coping mechanism that help to deal with stigma and discrimination, disclosure issues and developing a positive attitude towards Autism. TAFI works with community structures that promote child protection in order to safeguard children living with Autism against maltreatment, neglect and negligence from their caregivers.

Economic Empowerment

Women’s economic empowerment is a pre-requisite for inclusive and equitable economic growth. Ensuring that women have and can take advantage of full and fair opportunities to earn a living is fundamental to social and economic development. In addition to the intrinsic importance of economic equality for women, when they thrive, so do their families and societies. Improving women’s well-being contributes to a cycle of better health and education outcomes, more stable societies, and more sustainable development. TAFI acknowledges the importance of engaging women and youth with disability into Income Generating Activities (IGA) and capacity build training such as market accessibility, value addition, small business management, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and link to microfinance. TAFI appreciates the issues of food security and established smart farming such as hydroponic Agriculture and the organization has mentored and sensitized women and youth on revolving funds as well as social enterprise in cottage industry

Education

TAFI helps children and their caregivers address issues of ignorance, poverty, environmental degradation and social injustices and serves to improve peoples' lives by using available resources to help them fully exploit their potentials through scholarships, bursaries and link to sponsors. Promotion of education among the youth especially girls in Primary and Secondary Schools. Championing life skills training for the Autism adolescent and youths and therapy to support them reach the levels of independence. TAFI conducts life skills programs through various vehicles; SHR, counselling sessions, career forums, promotion of sports and debates in primary and secondary schools. The school programs are platforms for advocacy and HIV/AIDS awareness creation forums in schools to encourage girls and boys on prevention and behaviour change

Environment & Climate

TAFI contributes to environmental conservation through awareness creation and policy advocacy within the county legislation. The organization is in the forefront in mentoring young generation through school programs to conserve environment by sensitizing them to plant trees and adapt to the new methods of conserving environment and innovations. The smart Agriculture hydroponic demo farm at the organization is one of the ways in which it sensitizes the community to adjust and adapt to the new methodologies of mitigating environmental degradation. In partnership with other environmental crusaders, TAFI has reached great milestones in conducting sensitizations and trainings on climate change and mitigations.

Gender Equality and Inequalities

Girls and women are being underdiagnosed with autism, which takes a significant toll on their mental health and wellbeing. ASD is about four times more common among boys than girls. TAFI primary mandate is to champion and improve equality and inequalities for young women through engaging the Key stakeholders in filling gaps that discriminates against youth friendly services, enhancement of favorable policies and practices that promote their access to services.