Autism in Africa Conference 2025: Pioneering Afrocentric approaches to neurodiversity
With an estimated 2 million to 3 million children and young people with autism spectrum disorders in sub-Saharan Africa, a leading youth development organisation Afrika Tikkun has partnered with the inaugural Autism in Africa Conference.
This landmark event, scheduled for 9 to 10 April 2025 at The Garden Venue in Johannesburg, is set to gather stakeholders from around the continent to collaborate on Afrocentric autism and neurodiversity solutions.
In collaboration with multiple universities and government departments, the conference represents a critical opportunity to address the pressing need for African perspectives on autism, challenging existing stigmas and developing culturally appropriate interventions.
“We see firsthand the barriers that neurodiverse children and youth face in underresourced communities,” says Lana Roy, Disability Inclusion lead at Afrika Tikkun. “Many of these young people go undiagnosed, without appropriate interventions and are often misunderstood.”
The event will bring together a powerful coalition of stakeholders including the Gauteng Department of Education, various universities and key academic institutions such as the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Neurodiversity and the University of Cape Town’s Centre for Autism Research in Africa.
Afrika Tikkun’s involvement is particularly significant, drawing on its three-decades-long experience in community development through its holistic Cradle-to-Career model for child and youth development, which reaches thousands of beneficiaries annually.
Key objectives of the conference include:
- Establishing the African Association of Neurodiversity.
- Launching an African Journal of Neurodiversity.
- Bringing together African countries to address neurodiversity issues through collaborative research and knowledge exchange.
- Providing support frameworks for families, communities and healthcare workers.
- Creating pathways toward employability and independent living for neurodivergent youth.
- Establishing sustainable networks for ongoing collaboration across the continent.
The conference will also challenge Western-dominated narratives by centring African perspectives on autism, recognising the unique cultural, social and economic contexts that shape experiences of neurodiversity across the continent.
This groundbreaking initiative aligns with the United Nations’ recognition of World Autism Awareness Day, transforming the conversation from mere awareness to meaningful inclusion and empowerment. This year’s celebration illustrates how inclusivity policies make more equitable societies and, in return, help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Employment skills and independent living skills for the neurodivergent populations are of foremost importance and the organisations will work toward that direction. The UN recognises the importance of creating job opportunities for persons with autism. According to the National Autistic Society, only 16% adults with autism are in full-time employment, while 32% are in some kind of paid work – and this figure is likely to be considerably lower across Africa.
The conference marks an important step in the journey for neuro-inclusion across various countries in Africa. It recognises that experiences of autism in Africa are deeply rooted in unique cultural, social and economic contexts and aspires to foster responses that respect these realities and promote global understanding of neurodiversity.
“Through collaboration with this programme, we are continuing to expand our goal of not leaving a single child behind, regardless of their neurological profile. We believe an Afrocentric approach to autism will give families, educators and communities the tools they need to more effectively support children and help them achieve their potential,” concludes Roy.
Image credit: Freepik
