Celebrating World Autism Understanding Month
In the West Bank in the occupied Palestinian Territory, six-year-old Fady* loves his swings. There are three of them in the family's home – one in every spare corner – because when Fady wants to swing, that's what matters most. His 29-year-old mother, Mai*, knows this. She knows what calms him, what excites him, and what makes him come alive.
What Mai also knows is that raising a child with autism is challenging in a society not set up to accommodate neurodivergent children. There are difficulties accessing support, and the services that exist are often expensive, and not inclusive for children who are neurodivergent. This can result in families feeling deeply isolated. Mai does her best to counter this isolation by being the most supportive mother she can be.
“For me, he's my whole world," Mai says. “I don’t deny him anything. Whatever he needs.”
Building a life around progress
From the moment Mai discovered Fady had autism, she built her entire life around his progress. She has taken him to many support centres, coordinated therapy sessions, taught his three-year-old sister to be patient and understanding with him, and she makes space for dedicated one-on-one time with Fady each day. She describes his progress the way only a devoted mother could:
“It’s like water drops, falling little by little. Each drop takes time. It takes a year, maybe four months or more, to improve.”
Fady currently receives speech, occupational, and behavioural therapy. Thanks to physiotherapy, he began walking at around two and a half years old – a milestone Mai celebrates with quiet pride. Through the support of behavioural therapy, Fady is doing well and is better able to regulate his emotions and behaviour. Mai has also learned skills from the therapist to provide the kinds of support he needs when feeling overwhelmed.
“When I take him outside, he becomes more lively,” says Mai.
“There's no pressure, no stress on him. No nervousness.”
says Mai.
For Fady, that often means playing on one of the swings in the house.
“At the moment, his swing is essential in the house. If you put it aside, he'd go and get it. He says, 'Put it up for me.' We have three swings, not just one, for him. Wherever there's space, we put one for him.”
Mai high fives Fady as he enjoys himself on one of his swings.
The heavy cost of accessing support
The financial weight of Fady's care, however, has been crushing, because the available support services are unaffordable. The family's therapy, nursery, and medication costs add up to more than $1,100 AUD every month. For many families, that figure is simply insurmountable. But they are supports he needs, and that he has every right to access. “There were times I didn't have money to buy his medication,” Mai says. “There should be specialised centres for them, prepared by the state.”
That's where Save the Children stepped in.
The right support makes all the difference
Through cash assistance and case management support, Mai was able to secure Fady's nursery placement for a full term, cover four months of therapy sessions, and purchase his medication without fear. That peace of mind was transformative.
"Today, I bought his medication," Mai says. “So I rest assured as his medicine is now secured."
She speaks warmly about her Save the Children caseworker, describing her glowingly: “She listened with love and complete openness. It was honestly a very beautiful experience,” Mai says. “When I was overwhelmed, she'd come... I'd talk to her, and that's it. The pressure would lift. Everything would fade away. All the tension I was carrying would ease. She'd tell me what I could do... She helped me a lot, honestly. She helped us in so many ways. Honestly, I told her, ‘You opened a door of relief for us’.”
Standing with families for the long term
Consistent support is vital for children with autism, and it can make all the difference for families like Fady’s. The compassion of supporters like you helps make this kind of project possible – today and for the future.
*Names changed to protect identities.
Photos: Save the Children