Who We Are
Dorna Centre is an NGO registered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and recognized by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The Centre delivers individual care and education to children and young adults with autism and was established so people with autism in Uganda can access the same social, educational, and employment opportunities as everyone else.
Current Reach
Dorna Centre currently supports 12 children and young adults, most with severe autism. The Centre accepts children and young people aged 6 to 25 through day and boarding programmes, with continuing education opportunities, supported living arrangements, and a community outreach service. Dorna Centre remains the first facility solely dedicated to autism in Uganda.
Training, Therapy, and Family Support
The Centre transforms lives by equipping learners with vocational skills for independent adulthood while providing speech therapy and counselling. Dorna Centre also coordinates with parents, schools, caregivers, and media to improve understanding of autism, and serves as the coordinating centre for the Association of Parents for Children with Autism in Uganda.
Advocacy and Inclusion
Dorna Centre actively lobbies government and legislators so children and adults with autism can access basic support. This advocacy addresses stigma, isolation, worsening mental health, financial hardship, and reduced life opportunities that affect many families, especially single mothers carrying the full burden of specialized care.
Goals for Every Individual
- To be part of a community.
- To learn new skills.
- To get a job.
- To move into their own home or specialist autism care homes.
Focus of Intervention
- Attention and cooperation.
- Motivation for learning.
- Verbal behavior and communication skills.
- Self-help and toileting.
- Play and leisure skills.
- Social interaction.
- Supplemental academic programming.
- Other developmentally appropriate skills.
Behavior Support Priorities
- Non-compliance.
- Self-injurious behavior.
- Tantrums.
- Stereotypy.
- Transitioning difficulties.
- Other disruptive or problematic behaviors.
Our Commitment
Every child receives a seamless and consistent programme of instruction with integrated services. Dorna Centre advocates for the rights and interests of people with ASD by delivering early intervention, parent support groups, educator and health-service collaboration, training, autism information access, and sustained policy advocacy.