CARD News
Summer 2014
International Spotlight: Zemi Yenus Zemi Yenus, founder of the Joy Center for Children with Autism and Related Disorders in Ethiopia, recently visited CARD to learn more about research and treatment provided by Kennedy Krieger Institute. Ms. Yenus is the mother of an adult son with autism. While at CARD, she shared her story and talked about her experiences trying to find appropriate services for her child in Ethiopia. In 1999, Ms. Yenus actively assisted in introducing the country to autism and decided to open a center which would provide services for children with autism. Prior to this time, the public was not tolerant of children with disabilities. Many children were expelled from schools, and often parents of children with disabilities felt they had to hide their children or risk being cast off from society. In some cases, children were left at home, tied up with ropes in the dark while their parents went to work. In 2002, Ms. Yenus opened the first autism center in Ethiopia, the Joy Center, and provided care for four children. Currently, the center serves 80 children and has a waiting list of over 500. The Joy Center offers a variety of services, including diagnostic, behavioral, and educational assessment, as well as therapies, research, family support groups, and training. The center provides care for children ages 3 to 22, and focuses on teaching self help and social skills. Specialists and volunteers from around the world visit the Joy Center, which will soon be expanding to include a research center, a training facility, a guest house, and a therapy center. Last October, Ms. Yenus was one of the 100 women featured on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for her inspiring work to increase autism awareness and provide services for children with autism in Ethiopia. Due to her advocacy, the Melanie Pinkett-Davis, CARD clinical director; Zemi people of Ethiopia are now more aware of autism and its symptoms Yenus; Dr. Brenda Harris, CARD developmental pediatrician; Dr. Hanan Moussa, pediatrician visiting and additional facilities have opened to provide services to those from Egypt; and Tiffany Thomas-Brown, CARD with autism. In order to enhance the Joy Center, Ms. Yenus is clinical services coordinator hoping to hire more professionals and receive financial support. If you are interested in learning more about this incredible organization, please visit their website at ethioautism.org or check out their Facebook page.
New Train Set All aboard! We are excited about the new addition to our third floor waiting room! The train set was donated by Jenifer and Pranas Pauliukonis and their children, Max and Lucas, in honor of Pranas’s brother, Andy, who has autism.