Autism Schools Kenya: 5 Support Options and How to Choose

Last reviewed: 28 October 2026

Finding the right autism schools Kenya has to offer is one of the hardest tasks for a parent after a diagnosis. Options range from a regular CBC classroom with support, to a special unit inside a public primary school, to a private special school with therapists on site. This guide explains each option, names a few providers we have verified, and gives you the questions to ask on a school visit so you can judge any school for yourself.

Every autistic child is different. A school that suits a talkative eight-year-old who struggles with noise may not suit a non-speaking teenager. Start from your child’s needs, not from a list.

On this page

1. Start With an Assessment
2. 5 Types of Autism Schools in Kenya and Support Options
3. Autism Schools Kenya Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask
4. Support Organisations and Your Rights
5. Helping Your Child Learn at Home
6. Frequently Asked Questions

Start With an Assessment

A formal assessment opens doors. Schools, special units and KNEC all ask for reports. In the government system, assessment is done by the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) in Kasarani and the Educational Assessment and Resource Centres (EARCs) in the counties. KISE lists functional, cognitive and sensory assessments, with results used for placement and an individualised education plan (IEP), on its KISE functional assessment page. A medical diagnosis from a paediatrician, psychiatrist or developmental specialist is separate and also useful.

Our parent’s guide to special needs education in Kenya explains the assessment-to-placement route in more detail.

5 Types of Autism Schools in Kenya and Support Options

1. A regular classroom with support

Many autistic learners, especially those who speak and cope with group learning, do best in a mainstream CBC school with adjustments: a visual timetable, a quiet corner, warnings before changes, and teachers who understand meltdowns are not bad behaviour. The Ministry of Education’s Sector Policy for Learners and Trainees with Disabilities (2018) names autism among the disabilities schools should include and support.

2. A special unit inside a public school

Some public primary schools host autism or special needs units with trained teachers and smaller groups. One example is the autism unit at City Primary School in Nairobi, where the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya funded a vocational training centre, according to the NFDK flagship project page. Ask your county or sub-county EARC officer which units exist near you; availability varies widely by county.

3. A public special school

The Basic Education Act requires the government to establish public special schools and to provide special needs education in special schools or in regular schools suited to the learner. Learners with severe needs may follow the stage-based curriculum and take the Kenya Pre-vocational Level Assessment (KPLEA) instead of KJSEA.

4. A private special school

Private special schools combine teaching and therapy in one place. Two Nairobi examples, from their own websites:

• Bloom Garden Autism Academy, Muthangari Road: a special school for learners with autism, ADHD, intellectual challenges, Down syndrome and specific learning difficulties, offering speech, occupational, sensory integration, music and physiotherapy.
• Holmeside School, Dagoretti Road off Ngong Road, Karen: a day and boarding special needs school using an adapted British curriculum, with ABA, speech and occupational therapy and vocational training.

These are examples, not endorsements. We have not inspected them and do not know their current fees. Visit, ask questions and compare.

5. Therapy centres and home programmes

Some families keep their child in a regular school and add speech, occupational or behaviour therapy after school. This can work well if the therapist and class teacher talk to each other.

Autism Schools Kenya Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask

1. How many learners are in a class, and how many adults?
2. Are teachers trained in special needs education? Ask what training.
3. Which therapists are on staff, and how many sessions a week does each child get?
4. Is therapy included in the fee or billed separately?
5. Will my child have a written IEP, and how often is it reviewed with me?
6. Which curriculum do learners follow: CBC, stage-based or another?
7. How do you handle meltdowns? Is restraint ever used?
8. Is there a quiet or sensory room?
9. How do learners move on: senior school, vocational training or work?
10. Can I speak to a current parent?

Use the same list for every visit so that the autism schools Kenya parents shortlist are compared fairly. Write the answers down. Compare fees on a like-for-like basis: a lower fee with therapy charged per session can end up costing more. Our school fees tracker helps you plan payments across the year.

Support Organisations and Your Rights

The Autism Society of Kenya is a non-profit that supports families and is a useful first contact for peer support. Article 54 of the Constitution protects the right of persons with disabilities to access educational institutions integrated into society, as far as compatible with their interests. Under section 34 of the Basic Education Act, a school must not discriminate against a child seeking admission on grounds including disability.

Helping Your Child Learn at Home

• Keep routines predictable and show the plan with pictures.
• Use your child’s interests as a way into reading and maths.
• Short, structured practice works better than long sessions. Many autistic learners like the predictable format of 10-question quizzes such as the CBC Challenge.

If your child follows the regular curriculum, a cbcguide pass gives unlimited quizzes and grade-by-grade revision papers, so you can repeat the same type of task until it feels safe. For national exams, see our guide to KNEC special needs candidates.

Frequently Asked Questions