On February 27, 2022, the war in Ukraine upended world of over 4.3 million children – more than half of Ukraine’s child population. Autistic children have been and continue to be hit particularly hard. The loss of educational and therapeutic supports combined with war stressors are catastrophic to their development, resulting in a mental health crisis for the children and parents.

According to the Autism Europe at least 1% of the Ukrainian population is on the Autism spectrum, therefore we can estimate that over 440.000 Ukrainians are autistic. Yet we know that they face a chronic lack of support that is exacerbated in the current context. In addition to witnessing the destruction and violence of war, Ukrainian children with Autism are also grappling with the scary and overstimulating sound of sirens and ongoing shelling, the confinement of crowded bomb shelters, or the chaos of unexpected travel.

Their interests, friendships and routines have been disrupted, and the many therapeutic supports on which they have come to rely on have been upended by the war. Some families are learning to navigate new environments in foreign countries while struggling to find the right therapeutic support. Yet others have opted to stay in Ukraine, as the perilous journey to safety would be too overwhelming and disruptive for their children.

In response to the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, we created the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Autism Unity. The goal of this project is to prevent or reduce negative effects of severe traumatic events, such as war and extreme violence that affects children with Autism, families, specialists, and the entire Ukrainian society.

Our mission is to ensure that children with Autism and their families have access to sufficient high quality therapeutic services and supports to help them thrive and live fulfilling lives within communities and environments that are safe and welcoming.

Most importantly, Autism Unity is a community—a family of individuals who understand the joys and struggles of raising a child with Autism. Here, you’ll find understanding, acceptance, and camaraderie unlike anywhere else.