ms. kobeman, you mentioned the cultural stigma labeling that daughter as a bad omen. i would note parenthetically i would recently in nairobi and met with some nurosurgeons who are working on treating children who have hydrosephallic conditions and in one case i was told in uganda children who develop water on the brain or this terrible and lethal unless -- there's an condition a hydrosephallic condition are often seen as a bad omen or something along those lines. and i'm wondering who can be done to dispel that very dangerous myth which leads to these children being ostracized. when i was in lagos when i was on that trip, he said that some of the children in nigeria are just put aside and they are allowed to die because they're thought to be contaminated or possessed or some terrible condition rather than a physical developmental disorder that with the right interventions could be greatly helped, if you could. >> yes. that's why we are trying our level to take home the awareness. the most important part is letting people know what's going on. that the children are no

ms. brigitte kobeman, who moved to the united states over a decade ago. in 2004, brigitte's daughter had an autism spectrum disorder and they moved to where their son can receive appropriate treatment for his choice. back in maryland brigitte founded the not-for-profit autism community for africa in 2008 to create a platform to share her experience and help african families in need by providing them with information and resources. brigitte also represented her country and was voted miss congeal -- congeniality. and then we will hear from mr. tom mccool who is president and ceo of eden autism services, a new jersey-based nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children and adults with autism and their families. eden provides a specific variety of needs throughout the life span. mr. mccool is the founder commissioner on the national accreditation of special education services and founding member and current vice chair of the national association of residential providers of adults with autism. he served on the medical investigation of neuro

ms. brigitte kobeman, who moved to the united states over a decade ago. in 2004, brigitte's daughter had an autism spectrum disorder and they moved to where their son can receive appropriate treatment for his choice. back in maryland brigitte founded the not-for-profit autism community for africa in 2008 to create a platform to share her experience and help african families in need by providing them with information and resources. brigitte also represented her country and was voted miss congeal -- congeniality. and then we will hear from mr. tom mccool who is president and ceo of eden autism services, a new jersey-based nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children and adults with autism and their families. eden provides a specific variety of needs throughout the life span. mr. mccool is the founder commissioner on the national accreditation of special education services and founding member and current vice chair of the national association of residential providers of adults with autism. he served on the medical investigation of neuro