"In order to have a gap (in resources & services), you need to have a start.”
- Dr. Mohamed Baby
The start is conversation. Meaningful discourse can only happen when there is a transparent understanding of every country’s position and care. In some countries, children are locked behind doors, and in others, children are sent to the bush and never seen again. To protect this population and to create a standard of care, we need to understand what’s going on in all the corners of the world.
With the help of strategic partners and implementation teams, we will research the current ecosystem of resources, services and attitudes surrounding the autism diagnosis
Next we will educate community leaders, teachers, physicians, partners, governments, and private industry about autism as a medical construct
This will lead to increasing visibility and acceptance of autism by creating and distributing a multi-media campaign that informs communities and dismantles stigma
Countries of Early Focus
Countries of Early Focus
Countries with Strategic Relationships
Stigma & Discrimination Against Autism is a Human Rights Crisis in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, & Uganda
Ivory Coast
“Autism spectrum disorder is particularly heartbreaking in Cote d’Ivoire,where many people do not know what it is or how to help.In Cote d’Ivoire, like in many countries in Africa, a child with autism is associated with being evil. Themother is blamed as having done something bad that led her to be punished with a child with a “bad spirit,” so the child is mistreated, abused, hidden or beaten, because parents think that the child deserves to be treated that way.That’s how ‘evil’ is dealt with.”
Bridgette Kobenan, Autism Community of Africa in Ivory Coast (2012)
Kenya
“Investigating in Kenya provides insights into how widespread autism may be in the African population, and underscores the need for health policies that include neurodevelopmental disorders. Many children with ASD in Africa are socially isolated...and are never diagnosed or receive treatment. In many parts of the continent, developmental disabilities carry a societal stigma...Much of this is linked to the significant unawareness of autism in the community in Africa,and affected individuals are often not brought for treatment. In Kenya, there are no diagnostic facilities for autism related disorders, and no intervention guidelines exist.”
A Population-based Survey of Autistic Traits inKenyanAdolescents and Young Adults (2022)
Mali
“In Mali, ASD is not only stigmatized, but also not well recognized by most people, including health professionals..Most health professionals including pediatricians were unaware of ASD before our ASD awareness activities inBamako, the capital city of Mali...Training health professionals at the community health centers...in rural and urban Mali is crucial in raising ASD awareness...”
Validation of two parent-reported autism spectrum disorders screening tools M-CHAT-R and SCQ in Bamako, Mali (2019)
Uganda
“Intensify ASD awareness and advocacy:The existence of autism stigma and prejudice is attributable to a lack of awareness about autism among some policymakers, communities, and families. As a result, the government and development partners must promote context-specific campaigns and autism awareness raising. Early detection among communities and policymakers must be emphasized in order to raise public understanding and create a public health response to autism.”
Recommendations from ‘UgandanCourt Ruling: A glimmer of hope for children with AutismSpectrum Disorder (ASD); (2022)
