Sierra Leone Autistic Society

Across Africa only 3% of children with disabilities attend school . The Sierra Leone Autistic Society (SLAS) started in 2014 as a Community Based Organisation (CBO), undertaking sensitization only. It became a national Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in 2017, with the aim of facilitating access to health, education, psychological and social interventions and strategies for people with disabilities, with a focus on those with intellectual impairments such as autism spectrum disorder.

SLAS operates in Freetown and in Makeni (in Sierra Leone). SLAS currently has a team of 49 staff (who work in Freetown and Makeni), of which some are volunteer.

In 2017 SLAS established The Browne-Penn Special Education School, the first ever ‘special’ school in Sierra Leone for children with autism, and other developmental disabilities whom SLAS feels can benefit from the school’s programmes. The school, which has an ever-growing waiting list of children offers SLAS’ supported special education programmes within which all aspects of the curriculum are adapted to ensure every child participates effectively. Each child has an individual education plan with specific goals to ensure progress. Trained and qualified staff ensure that the children are effectively taught not only academic work, but also self-help and social skills, with substantial opportunities for learning through play.

Jacob’s Well has supported the Sierra Leone Autistic Society, including sending them a minibus to transport the children from around the city to the school.  We have also provided solar power for their day care centre in Kabala. Their work has rapidly expanded and they are near to completing a new school which will hold up to 150 children (they currently have 60 at their school in Freetown. We also supplied the school with catering equipment to enable them to set up a café, called “The Inclusive Café”. This has been so successful that they are now setting up a complete skills training centre to try and develop the skills of the autistic pupils to such an extent that they are enabled to find a place within society.