Autism in Laos

Thanks to our latest donors / Vielen Dank an unsere neuesten Unterstützer:
Sol'Asia (France); Mr. Stefan Frischknecht (Zürich), Mr. Norbert Höink (Forst), Mrs. Hildegard von Walther (Berlin), Mrs. Barbara Luchsinger (Zürich)

WAAD 2013:
Lao Brewery Co., Ltd. 20.000.000 Kip, KP Group 10.000.000 Kip; Dr. Rolf Gennrich + Mrs. Jarunee 8.000.000 K; Mrs. Keosaychay Sayasone 5.000.000 K; Mrs. Douangta Matmanisone (DM, LBWA) 5.000.000 K; VKK Industy Co. 5.000.000; Lane Xang Mineral Co. 5.000.000 K; Mr. Virachit Philaphandeth 5.000.000 K; Saythirath Group 3.000.000 K; Mrs. Chanthachone (LBWA) 3.000.000 K; Mrs. Vilayvanh Sousavath 2.650.000 K; Mr. Sengkham Phinith 2.400.000 K; Achan Kaysone Inthichak (USA) 2.400.000 K; Mr. Saykham Phommachanh 2.000.000 K; Mrs. Thippavong Khantisaly 2.000.000 K; Lao World Co. 2.000.000 K; Mrs. Ali Pholsena 2.000.000 K

Autism in Laos is as widespread as it is in other countries. But it is by far less known and diagnosed as for example in neighboring Thailand. Even doctors do not know much about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), how could one assume that farmers in rural or mountainous areas can do? For most people their kids just "learn to speak a bit later" or " are a bit introverted". So it comes with no surprise that a parents group of children with ASD came into contact with each other with support of a specialised department of a well-known hospital in Thailand. A quick survey (response to a newspaper article about autism) brought up about 40 to 50 kids mostly suspected to fall into the autism spectrum in the Lao capital Vientiane alone. Our parents group currently comprises 25 of them. The Vientiane Autism Center opened mid 2009 to provide education and therapy to those kids.