The Issue
Autism is found globally and within all populations. The CDC estimates 75 million people around the world have autism, a conservative number when considering how many countries don’t diagnose or report it. The largest numbers of young autistic children live in developing or low- and middle-income countries, including over one million children each in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, while the highest rates of childhood autism are seen in the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa. In effect, much of the world's childhood autism is concentrated in regions where health resources are limited.
With that being said, there are resource and service deserts everywhere, even in developed regions of the world. The safety and dignity of those within the community are challenged when there is no support or sufficient education of the diagnosis. The stigma and discrimination against the autistic community and their caregivers can lead to harm and ostracization from the community - directly impacting the life chances of autistic people.
It will be through global partnership, education, technological advancement, and a shift in governmental awareness to lift our communities and create a uniting standard of care.
The Solution
STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES:
Addressing a Humanitarian Crisis in a Sustainable & Impactful Way
Leverage an implementation science approach based on community insights to guide the initiative
01
Build vested, strategic partnerships for true systems change among government, corporate, non-profit, and academia working alongside local communities
02
Ensure education and visibility objectives complement programmatic objectives (building safe therapeutic locations & stimulating technological innovation)
03
Use storytelling to encourage communities to understand how autistic people are more than their disorder
04
Harness community leaders as trusted messengers to garner commitment and action to better care for autistic people