Supporting Children with Autism Living in Extreme Poverty in Ecuador

This April, we come together to mark Autism Awareness Month with the HERO Campaign, an initiative aimed at providing therapy for children with autism facing extreme poverty in Ecuador. Our mission is to turn awareness into tangible action, and you are a vital part of this process.  We can to provide a range of therapies, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, ABBA, TEACH and DENVER.

Even when children receive a diagnosis, access to therapy is extremely limited: the public system typically provides around 4 sessions per month, usually 30–45 minutes once per week, far below international best practices recommending 20–40 hours of early intervention per week. Private therapy costs $30–$50 per session, pushing monthly care above $2,000, which is unaffordable for most families. As a result, thousands of children with autism in Ecuador grow up without the intensity of support required during the most critical developmental years, creating a systemic inclusion gap that affects families, education systems, and the country’s long-term social and economic potential.

Therapeutic services are essential for the development and well-being of children with autism. Therefore, we have established various donation options that will enable more children to access the therapy they desperately need.