World Autism Awareness Day - Autism In Africa Conference 2025: Pioneering Afrocentric Approaches to Neurodiversity

With an estimated 2-3 million children and young people with autism spectrum disorders in sub-Saharan Africa, a leading youth development organisation, Afrika Tikkun proudly announces its partnership with the inaugural Autism in Africa Conference. This landmark event, scheduled for April 9-10, 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 under-resourced 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-decade-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 (AAN)

• 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 centering 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 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Employment skills and independent living skills for the neurodivergent populations are of foremost importance and the organisations will work towards that direction. The United Nations (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 program, we are continuing to expand our goal of not leaving a single child behind, regardless of their neurological profile. We believe that 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.

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About Afrika Tikkun

Recently awarded 2025 CSI Legacy Award Best NGO Winner, Afrika Tikkun is a social impact organisation focused on child and youth development. Since 1994, we have reached more than 2 million children and young people across the country. Afrika Tikkun provides education, health and social services to disadvantaged communities within South Africa, through its nine centres across the provinces. Its award-winning Cradle-to-Career 360° model provides a holistic approach to the development of young people from early childhood to school leaving age, to when they journey into accessing economic opportunities. Afrika Tikkun’s primary goal is to create a sustainable future through economic and social empowerment for the youth of South Africa, for 30 years and beyond. For more details visit: www.afrikatikkun.com