At seven years old, Tendo doesn’t speak—but she communicates in her own beautiful ways. In her rural Ugandan village, where autism is often misunderstood as "demons" or "madness," she faced isolation and stigma. But with Ushindi’s Neurodiversity Inclusion Program, her story is being rewritten.

Her Struggles

• Silenced by Stigma: Neighbors called her "cursed" when she rocked or hummed to self-soothe.
• Locked Out of School: Teachers turned her away, saying she was "too difficult."
• A Mother’s Heartbreak: Tendo’s mom, Sarah, gave up her small business to care for her, sinking deeper into poverty.

Ushindi’s Intervention

✅ Community Education:

• Workshops where villagers experience sensory overload (blinding lights, overwhelming noise) to build empathy.
• Local leaders now call her "special, not strange."

✅ Personalized Support:

• Sensory Toolkit: Weighted blanket, chewable necklace, and picture cards to help her communicate.
• First Words: After months of therapy, she now says "Mama" and "eat."

✅ Inclusive Schooling:

• A nearby primary school trained to welcome her—the first autistic student they’ve ever enrolled.
• Peers now protect her, not mock her.

The Transformation

• Tendo’s Joy: She plays with other children for the first time.
• Sarah’s Relief: With Ushindi’s parent-support program, she’s restarting her business.

A Village Changed: Neighbors now ask, "How can we help?" instead of "What’s wrong with her?"

Why This Matters

• $60 provides a sensory kit.
• $250 trains a teacher in autism inclusion.$500 sponsors a child’s therapy for a year.

"Tendo didn’t need fixing—the world needed to learn how to see her."