Our mission is to provide access to therapies and specialized education for people with autism and Down syndrome, and to raise awareness about these neurodevelopmental conditions in order to improve their quality of life and build a support network for their families every step of the way.
We envision an inclusive world where every person with autism and Down syndrome has the opportunities and support needed to develop their potential and live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Autism is a disorder that affects the way a child’s brain develops.
Children with autism may have difficulties communicating, understanding the meaning of words, adapting to changes, coping with loud noises or crowds, and understanding the world around them, which can often put them at risk.
Each person with autism is unique and may have different abilities and challenges. Some children only need a little support, while others may require continuous assistance to learn and carry out daily activities.
Down syndrome is a condition in which a child has an extra chromosome or an extra part of a chromosome. This additional copy changes the way a baby’s body and brain develop, which can lead to both mental and physical challenges throughout life.
Although people with Down syndrome may share certain physical traits and behaviors, each individual has unique abilities. With the right support, they can lead full and active lives.
Speech and language therapy is a core therapeutic intervention designed to help individuals with autism improve all forms of communication—not just spoken language. Its primary goal is not simply to teach pronunciation, but to develop functional social communication skills that enable people to express their needs, desires, thoughts, and ideas, as well as to understand and interact effectively with others.
A key intervention that helps children and adolescents with autism gain independence and participate more fully in activities of daily living. It primarily focuses on three areas: managing sensory challenges, developing fine and gross motor skills, and fostering autonomy in self-care tasks. Through therapeutic activities and play, it aims to improve self-regulation and interaction with the environment.
Created to provide up-to-date information, learning, and support for parents, teachers, and caregivers of children and young people with Autism and Down syndrome.
On June 20, 2024, the transfer of a plot of land with an ancient building to Fundación Pasos de Luz was approved for the execution of the construction project of a comprehensive support center for children and adolescents with autism, Down syndrome, and their families,
On November 9, the Nutrition and Autism Workshop, delivered by Nutritionist Nallely Zambrano and organized by Fundación Pasos de Luz, took place. The presentation explained why nutrition is crucial in autism given the frequent feeding challenges and food selectivity seen in children on the spectrum, which can lead
We want to continue opening spaces for dialogue on autism, neurodiversity, and education, such as the talk and reading of the book «Volamos juntos» by psychologist and inclusive education expert Andrea Villasmil, which we held on Friday, March 21. That day we were joined by education authorities and delegates from
On May 15 we held our free talk for parents and teachers, “Beyond Labels,” on inclusion and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. The session was led by educational psychologist Carmen Betancourt
We thank all the local educational institutions for their openness, empathy, and willingness to join and participate in this initiative by Fundación Pasos de Luz, which aims to promote the conscious inclusion of children with
Learning strategies to support speech development in children with autism from expert clinicians is a valuable opportunity for parents in our community. On Saturday, June 21, the workshop on the Orofacial Sensory System in Autism took place, led by Licensed Speech Therapist Luis Naranjo. The orofacial system refers to the
Thanks to the initiative of the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion MIES for the Sucre–San Vicente–Jama district, which called together various local organizations and universities, including our Fundación Pasos
Participating as Fundación Pasos de Luz in the Children’s Day Festival organized by the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) for the Sucre–San Vicente–Jama district gave us a valuable opportunity to continue raising awareness about autism, Down syndrome, and
On Sunday we held Pasos de Luz Foundation’s first Family Gathering. It was a day for parents, siblings, and relatives of children and adults with autism or Down syndrome to come together with our children
As Fundación Pasos de Luz, we have begun Phase 1 of refurbishing the site granted for the construction of a Comprehensive Support Center specialized in autism and other neurodivergences. This center will serve not only the Sucre canton but also
Knowing your child’s sensory profile can make a big difference in their everyday concentration and behavior. On Saturday, June 21, we held the talk «Understanding
One of our goals at Fundación Pasos de Luz is to inform, raise awareness, and sensitize our community about Autism and neurodevelopmental conditions in general. That is why we have reached out to local radio outlets to bring these topics closer to city residents and those in neighboring cantons. We are grateful to media partners
Join our family of partners and support our mission to provide specialized therapies and education. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.
Your donations allow us to provide special therapies and education to those who need them most. Every contribution, big or small, helps brighten the path for many families.
We extend our invitation to businesses that wish to contribute to our cause through donations or sponsorship programs, helping us grow our projects for the benefit of our children with special needs.
Abg. Hernán Burbano G.
President
Rocío Solorzano
Vicepresident
Zaidi García
Secretary
Johanna Cedeño
Treasurer
