One On One with Felicity Nyambura Ngungu
What is Your Story?
I am Felicity Nyambura Ndu’ngu, a mother and a grandmother. I pride myself that in 2003, I founded the Autistic society of Kenya (ASK). Today, ASK as a parent – driven initiative is a fully fledged organisation with office and permanent staff and has proved invaluable as a first line of call for concerned persons tackling Autism in their families.
What is Autism?
Autism (Tawahudi in Kiswahili) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with biological basis. It is classified as a
developmental disorder which is a category of disability for persons who are cognitively impaired. The real cause of
autism is yet to be discerned, but research continues. Some of the signs and symptoms to look out for Children with Autism are:
• Lack or delay in Spoken Language
• Little or no eye contact
• Repetitive use of Language and /or motor mannerisms
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Persistent fixation on parts of objects.
What are the functions of the Autism Society of Kenya?
• ASK has been vocal in Lobbying and advocacy for appropriate policies and legal frame works and their implementation strategies at the national and County levels
• Initiating Autism orientated units in all public schools in Kenya
• Assessment of children with the help of medics
• Counselling parents, guardians and families
• Community outreach programs in several counties
• Training and retraining of teachers, occupational therapists and health practitioners as well as Placements of the assessed children into appropriate programs.
• Organizing capacity building programs and seminars for parents/guardians/ siblings and stakeholders.
Why are you specially involved in
Autism?
I am a grandmother of a young adult named Andrew Safari Ogolla; I have therefore can vouch for the challenges of having an autistic individual at familial level. This explains my passion and endeavour in attempting to tackle Autism.
Does Autism Affect a particular Segment of Kenyan Society?
Autism affects the populations all over the world, and has not been tied down to a particular race or community or any
particular economic bloc. Interestingly, it affects more males than female at the ratio of 4:1.
Is Autism passed down genetically?
Research on this angle is still not conclusive.
Mention the Major Challenges in Dealing with Autism in the Country?
ASK relies on benefactors to run its programs. Financing –as always- is therefore our major challenge as rarely do our books balance. Our other major challenge is fighting an existing mind set among our rural communities who have a set belief that Autism is Witchcraft.
ASK is active in the urban and peri – urban areas and is yet to fully trickle down to the county levels. In many cases, Autism children need to have a special diet; this has a particular challenge as the entire family needs to adjust accordingly in their feeding arrangements resulting to particular economic challenges.
What do you consider are your Major Successes?
Our major success is that we have created awareness, and we are able to guide parents and guardians as appropriate. This awareness however is yet to trickled down to the common Mwananchi with th resultant change in the warped
belief system.
Where do you see Autism Globally in the Next 5 Years?
I cannot comment on issues of global, but for Kenya, we hope to gain much through the advocacy and lobbying. It is our prayer that soon the Government will fully start funding these initiatives.
