Attention-getter – make us listen

94% of disability and mental health research comes from high-income countries. Even though autism is a global health issue, the African continent has the least amount of Autism research done in the world. Due to this, there is a severe lack of knowledge about autism in Sierra Leone and no culturally appropriate way to screen for it. 

The Challenge – state or frame the problem as a world-level challenge.

Provided that Sierra Leone is a low-income country that has undergone major social, economic, and political turmoil in recent history, education and healthcare have been neglected. Moreover, people’s limited awareness of autism and accessibility to healthcare now manifest in social exclusion of individuals suspected of having autism, among other non-visible or easily explainable disabilities.  

The Journey – explain your methodology in an active, action-oriented way.

We developed the first culturally appropriate autism screener that’s feasible for use in Sierra Leone. By screening children, we will promote awareness and appoint children and their families to the resources they need. We will also be generating the much needed prevalence data on autism in order to bring attention to its issue to a variety of areas, such as the government and NGOs.

The Battle – describe how, with the help of your allies (partners), you have or will overcome the challenge.

The team can overcome these challenges by engaging and continuously developing relationships, in Sierra Leone especially, that prioritize the needs of the communities we intend to serve. The team can utilize available resources to mobilize stakeholders to improve education and healthcare in-country by providing the following: incorporating autism knowledge in medical and educational curricula, providing professional development, and working with local and national governments. 

The Change – state the solution / outcome / catharsis of this story

Five years from now, if a child in Sierra Leone is suspected of having autism, they’ll be able to be screened using our screener at their local hospital or school by a trained educator or healthcare worker, and directed to resources for support. Children with autism will be able to adapt and be included in society without being stigmatized.