Tohum Austim Foundation works with students suffering ASD in Türkiye
When the classroom becomes a seedbed for integration for children with autism
Current Project
Since its creation in 2003, the Tohum Autism Foundation has promoted early, intensive, and quality education for children with autism in Türkiye, improving school participation and the well-being of thousands of children.
Its “Every Classroom is a Tohum” initiative, meaning every classroom is a seed, targets around 450 students, from kids under 14 to young people aged 15 to 22, and also works with their families and teaching teams. By involving the entire educational community, the project seeks to bring about a cultural change: where school ceases to be merely somewhere you go and becomes a space for true learning, participation, and growth for everyone involved.
The strategy behind this initiative is based on three main lines of work: first, specialized teacher training, aimed at equipping teachers with appropriate teaching tools, knowledge about autism, and methods focused on diversity; second, the adaptation of teaching and technological materials in participating classrooms, to facilitate learning tailored to the needs of each student; and third, the creation of a permanent support network between educational centers, so that the accumulated experience can be replicated and shared beyond the duration of the project. These components are based on the foundation’s experience, as it has already provided equipment for dozens of classrooms in 42 provinces in Türkiye through previous editions of the program.
The Tohum Autism Foundation emphasizes that, although early diagnosis of ASD has improved, real change comes when educational care is early, continuous, and high quality. In this sense, the program aims to ensure that each transformed classroom is not limited to a space with adapted furniture, but instead becomes an environment that promotes communication, social interaction, equal learning, and the participation of all students.
The expected impact goes beyond academic improvement: it is about helping young people with autism gain access to real opportunities for inclusion, in both the classroom and adult life. Some recent editions of the program have even reached areas affected by natural disasters, demonstrating the adaptability and scope of the initiative.