Little information could be found regarding support for autistic adults in Sierra Leone within the scope of this research. There are reports of support being made available by some NGOs, but much of the support described within the sources consulted, appears to be directed towards children. The following excerpts refer to non-governmental organisations working in the field of intellectual disabilities, and autism.
Their multifaceted approach includes projects like the Kids Club and Skills Training Center with the aim to assist children and young people with autism to acquire essential skills for integration into society.”
Source: The Calabash Newspaper: “Autism Consortium Launches Fundraising Initiatives to Empower Persons with the Disability”, 24 April 2024, last accessed: 14 May 2024
“In a statement he delivered, Emmanuel Sahr MacPherson, intimated that the Macpherson Foundation was founded in 2020 with the aim of creating equal educational opportunities for underprivileged children and helping children with mental and intellectual disabilities attain their full potentials. He furthered how the Foundation seeks to help underprivileged children who are finding it difficult to access basic things (books, transportation, uniform, food) that could aid them to be successful in school.
He added that as their motto depicts, 'No Child Is Left Behind', the Macpherson Foundation is keen on creating a vision of hope for the future for the most vulnerable of population underscoring that they are working together to provide for children who have suffered abuse, domestic violence, neglect, and abandonment, because of the way they were born.
'People don’t pay much attention to mental and intellectual disabilities and we are determined to change that narrative,' he stated with passion revealing how the Foundation supports children (ages 1 to 12) with intellectual disabilities, traumatic or acquired brain injuries, or other developmental challenges.”
Source: The Owl Newspaper: “Macpherson Foundation Launches Operations in Moyamba”, 9 January 2023, last accessed: 8 August 2023
“Orange Foundation on the 6th of April, 2022 partnered with the Sierra Leone Autism Society (SLAS) and other organizations to launch a helpline for people living with Autism. The launch and Film Screening of a movie titled 'The reason I jump' took place at the company’s headquarters on Hill Station in Freetown.
This helpline, 504 , it was stated will enable people to call and report cases of people living with the disorder for them to get the necessary help that they need as most times the victims are associated with demons. Autism is a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior.
Director of Digital Transformation, Madam Finnah Tucker, applauded all those who see these kids as an integral part of the society disclosing how they are doing their best to make the victims or sufferers feel happy and welcomed.”
Source: The Calabash Newspaper: “Orange Foundation & SLAS Partner to Launch 504 as Helpline for People Living with Autism”, 11 April 2022, last accessed: 8 August 2023
"As part of their continuous support to vulnerable people in the country, especially those living with disabilities, the Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has on Monday 19th April, 2021, donated assorted food items worth 85 Million of Leones to the Sierra Leone Autistic Society for onward support to children living with Autism in their school.”
Source: The Calabash Newspaper: “Orange Foundation Donates Le85 M Worth of Food Items to Sierra Leone Autistic Society”, 21 April 2021, last accessed: 8 August 2023
"As part of their support in raising awareness on children living with Autism, Orange Foundation-Sierra Leone has on Wednesday 31st March, 2021 sealed partnership with the Sierra Leone Autistic Society. The event took place at Orange Headquarters at Hill Station in Freetown. […] Mary Penntimity noted that her organization has been providing support for autistic children, young people and their families in Sierra Leone since inception, adding that they started with few children but now runs play schemes, have youth groups and support groups, furthering that their activities are providing vital community support and reducing the profound and dangerous isolation of autistic children furthering that they have also succeeded in establishing a school for these children.The Director of Orange Foundation, Jestina Betts, said that when she took over as Director of the Foundation she had the passion to do something especially with regards addressing issues relating to children in the country saying that children living with Autism need more attention, furthering that growing up she came across children living with Autism and that she has always wanted to help raising the awareness on Autism.”
Source: The Calabash Newspaper: “Orange Foundation Partners with Sierra Leone Autistic Society”, 1 April 2021, last accessed: 8 August 2023
Source: Autism Voice Sierra Leone: “Autism Voice Sierra Leone Annual Report – Amplifying the Voices of Autistic People, December 2018 – December 2019 [via Facebook]”, 19 December 2019, pp. 2-6, last accessed: 7 August 2023
At the December 2017 Pan-African Experiences of Autism Conference parent and co-founder of Sierra Leone Autistic Society, Maty Penn-Timity, contrasted her experience of support provided in the UK with her experience of moving to Sierra Leone with her autistic daughter. Two NGOs – the Autism Council and Sierra Leone Autistic Society (which also set up the Browne-Penn Special School) described their work in Sierra Leone.
A child development centre where she was observed and diagnosed by multi-disciplinary team
home visits to provide early intervention in-house support for progress in many areas
intensive support within ‘specialist’ school
special school education;
(i) with lots of opportunities for learning new skills (e.g. swimming), self-help skills (e.g. to dress/feed herself), community visits, speech and language support, hearing, vision and dentistry check-ups
(ii) individual education plan to target Jes’ needs; with adapted curriculum
(iii) safe environment
parent support groups/outings and respite for family
school bus service to ease transportation worries – was very challenging to transport Jes
psychiatry services – for medication etc.
therapeutic services - e.g. arts/play therapy, sensory room activities (both at school, home and external centres)
dietary support – tested for allergies/intolerances and nutrition advice provided
general practitioner – who regularly monitored Jes’ medical needs; especially as she is non-verbal (so regular check-ups) and needed referral from time to time to different specialists.
social worker who looked at Jestina’s holistic needs and also advocated for support/services that were key.
The Sierra Leone Experience
nowhere to turn to for help; we went to a Ministry to ask for sign posting to
autism services, and were asked 'what is autism?'
no database of autism services/referral pathways
several doctors told us they don’t know about autism and so couldn’t help our child
a medical personnel told us that she could never progress/improve so we should just keep her at home with 24 hours nursing care
a medical personnel prescribed a discontinued drug for Jes; thankfully her mum’s pharmacology background meant she was able to make a life saving decision
we were told there was no school that could meet her needs.
we were told by many many people both professionals and non-professionals to take her to ‘the medicine man’
heard neighbours saying that we sacrificed our child to go abroad and make money
when Jestina went into crisis; several times neighbours ran away stating that ‘debul don ol am’
we were thrown out of several restaurants/taxis etc. when she went into crisis; fear that she was a ‘debul pikin’
initially Jes could only interact with her siblings as other children feared her
in a church we attended, we were told to take her for one month fasting and prayer; but that we should leave her there for that duration also.
very expensive nappies in Sierra Leone
stigma – plus plus!!!!
What Has Worked In Sierra Leone?
lots of opportunities for one-to-one input; especially in Browne-Penn School (as it’s not as costly as it could be in the UK and other countries which has been very positive for Jes)
the fight to get Jes out of nappies is gradually being won; she now mainly wears nappies for bedtime only; this is because of what we call ‘the pinning technique’.
in Sierra Leone they ‘pin’ on children to do certain things; but be careful, because ‘pinning’ should be realistic and achievable without going into ‘abusive’ mode
sensitisation
lots of love from immediate and extended families”
Source: Stepping Forward UK: “Pan-African Experiences of Autism: Transforming Rights into Reality, Report of Conference held at: The British Council, Freetown, Sierra Leone, December 2017”, December 2017, pp. 37-38, last accessed: 8 August 2023
“4.9 The Work of the Autism Council of Sierra Leone, John Koroma
Background
Sierra Leone Autism Council, founded in April 2016, is a programme of Stop It-Sierra Leone that works with a network of partners in autism awareness and advocacy and providing a variety of programmes and services that help to develop social and physical solutions. Our programmes are designed to share with participating organizations that work for autism. These organizations work to transition autism from the backyards to the door steps of communities onto the corridors of power. Our partners mostly learn and share about:
1. A history of autism in Sierra Leone from various sources,
2. Benefits of Partnership for autistic persons
3. Networking for social action for autistic persons.
Through collaborative relationship with local and international organizations and businesses, etc, we have placed ASD issues in the spotlight and this has helped to provide a renaissance about the condition in both private and public sectors.
Those who are not ready for autism action are still being pursued and encouraged especially the Government of Sierra Leone, to place priority of ASD on the national development agenda and to address it on a national scale with local and international partners on board.
Organisational Network
We hold several meetings each week with various partners and organizations that work alongside autism affairs or have interest in autistic issues and discuss a variety of issues that help autistic people develop social and physical skills.
There are hundreds of local families in Sierra Leone going through similar experiences in raising an autistic child […]
Autism Educational Assistance
To facilitate the work of people dealing with autism, we have initiated Autism Educational Assistance through fundraising programmes to support children with special needs gain education at Browne-Penn, the first established Special Education School for autistic children in Sierra Leone. […]
4.10 The Sierra Leone Autistic Society & The Browne-Penn School, Freetown: Alice Browne and Mary Penn-Timity
The mission of the organization is to enhance the well-being of people living with ASD, their parents and care givers, through advocacy, empowerment, research, training and bio psychosocial (health, psychological and social), as well as educational support.
Functions of SLAS/Staff
• Research
• Assessment and diagnostics
• Educational support: Browne-Penn Special Education School (BPSS)
• Nationwide Sensitization
• Trainings
• Doctors
• Therapists
• Pharmacologist
• Special needs instructors
• Mental Health Nurses
• Social Workers
• Research Assistants
• Support workers
Browne-Penn Special Education School: Every Child Matters
Browne-Penn Special Education School (BPSS) is set up for children with developmental disabilities whose needs cannot be met within mainstream schools.”
Source: Stepping Forward UK: “Pan-African Experiences of Autism: Transforming Rights into Reality, Report of Conference held at: The British Council, Freetown, Sierra Leone, December 2017”, December 2017, pp. 25-27, last accessed: 8 August 2023
The Sierra Leone Autistic Society’s website describes how it was established and its founders’ experience and passion for ‘the mental well being of the child and adolescent population as well as education’.
“OUR STORY
How Sierra Leone Autistic Society Began
Sierra Leone Autistic Society (SLAS) started in 2014 as a Community Based Organisation (CBO) with its main aim of sensitisation. A family from the UK came to Sierra Leone with their daughter who was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), after visiting every secondary school in the capital city of Freetown, as well as the ministry of education, they realised that there was no school that could meet their child’s needs, and no effective service for people with ASD and other developmental disabilities in the whole country. It was quickly realised that the work needed to expand, and as such, SLAS became a national Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in 2017.
SLAS is founded by two women (Mary Penn-Timity and Alice Browne); Mary is a dual citizen of Sierra Leone/UK. […]
They are both very passionate about the mental well being of the child and adolescent population as well as education. Because of their beliefs and passion, they opened up the first inclusive school for children with developmental disabilities. Browne- Penn Special Education school (BPSS) located in Wellington, Freetown Sierra Leone. They believe that 'Every child matters' and together, they believe they can make a difference in Sierra Leone with their vast knowledge and expertise they have in Mental Health especially working with children with special needs and disabilities. Together, both Mary and Alice have experience of working with children with developmental disabilities (particularly those with autism), their families and care givers in various settings.”
Source: Sierra Leone Autistic Society: “Who We Are”, undated, last accessed: 8 August 2023
The website for the Sahid Autism Foundation appears to be currently inaccessible, but its Facebook page states that it works with children who have autism or special needs in Sierra Leone.
“SAHID AUTISM FOUNDATION.
Is a humanitarian organization that deals with child with Autism or children with special needs base in Sierra Leone, West Africa.”
Source: Sahid Autism Foundation (Facebook Page): “Sahid Autism Foundation”, undated, last accessed: 8 August 2023
Stepping Forward UK’s website lists a number of initiatives it is working on in Sierra Leone.
“We are working with partners on a number of initiatives in Sierra Leone:
[…]
Employment training opportunities for people with disabilities, including work placements;
Capacity-development for the Sierra Leone Autistic Society and the Browne-Penn Special School and the supply of play resources.
Support to the Hosetta Abdullah Special Needs School in Freetown, including the purchase of a mini-bus in 2017 to enable the children to attend school and the stipend of a volunteer teaching assistant.
In December 2017 we organised the first autism conference in Sierra Leone with The British Council and Disability Africa.”
Source: Stepping Forward UK: “Sierra Leone”, undated, last accessed: 6 August 2023