Kuching Autistic Association (KAA) was formed by a group of parents of children with autism, and professionals on 18 January, 1998 and was registered as a non-government organization (NGO) on 6 May, 1998. The Association runs an Educational Centre and a Sheltered Workshop at its own premises at Lorong 15, Jalan Desa Wira, Kuching, Malaysia as shown in the following pictures.
Vision
To enable people with autism to achieve their full potential and to live useful, independent and economically productive lives.
Mission
To provide educational and training opportunities for children and young persons with autism, through appropriate intervention programmes.
To equip parents and caregivers of people with autism with coping and training skills through seminars and support groups.
To develop public awareness of autism and promote community involvement and support for people with autism and their families.
Objectives
To promote the identification, treatment, education and rehabilitation of people with autism to enable them to achieve their full potential.
To provide early intervention programmes for children with autism, with emphasis on developing social, communication and living skills.
To prepare pre-school children with autism towards integration into the school system.
To provide pre-vocational training for teenagers with autism, with emphasis on developing their potential to gain employment opportunities.
To set up vocational training opportunities for young persons with autism.
To conduct training programmes for caregivers, parents and educators of people with autism.
To assist and advise families of people with autism.
To enhance caregivers’ and parents’ coping skills through mutual support groups.
To promote knowledge and sympathetic understanding of the problems and behaviour of people with autism.
To familiarize and advise the community of the special skills, services and understanding necessary for the care and management of people with autism.