Background

Every child deserves systemic support to help them live up to their potential, support that will allow the unique constellation of their thoughts, perspectives, and insights to thrive. Neurodiversity, including conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), embody a heterogeneous way of engaging with the world.  

Yet, despite the beauty of these differences, they often become the reason for stigmatization and marginalization, as individuals are subjected to inadequate support, lack of awareness, and misunderstanding.

A 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics revealed that the prevalence of autism in India extends to every 1 in 68 children, and yet early diagnosis is often overlooked. This results in a mere 1 to 1.5%  of those between two to nine years of age being diagnosed. This is largely caused by limited access to appropriate healthcare facilities, with many low-income families facing numerous hurdles in identifying signs of neurodiversity and receiving adequate screenings. In the absence of diagnosis, these children miss out on early interventions and are forced to grow up without support which further snowballs into adversary impacts on their education, socialization, future employment, and overall mental well-being. The issue is further compounded by a lack of awareness and deep-rooted stigma. A 2019 study reported by the Asian Journal of Psychiatry depicted how parents of children with autism experience social ridicule due to extensively prevalent stereotypes and prejudices.

To address an issue this sensitive requires the timely utilization of multiple avenues including awareness generation, normalization, as well as developing accessible socio-medical resources. The Autism Awareness and Action Alliance (A4) was founded to address these very challenges and provide comprehensive support to families of neurodivergent children from underserved communities within India.