Mother’s Struggle Against Misconceptions
Kazaliou Balde’s parents began worrying when he avoided eye contact and had difficulty communicating as a small child. In Guinea, West Africa, the family first consulted a traditional healer who recommended protective amulets. When Balde dragged himself along the ground instead of walking, they took him to a hospital in Conakry, where he received an autism diagnosis—a condition the family had never heard of. Neighbors made rude comments, with some suggesting that Kadiatou Diallo, the 55-year-old mother and trader, “take him to the bush and throw him away.”
Misconceptions about autism are common in parts of Africa lacking data, awareness, and government support. Some attribute autism to evil spirits, delaying diagnosis and stigmatizing children and families. Autism spectrum disorder affects people differently, including delays in language, learning, or social skills. Profound autism can involve being nonverbal and having intellectual disabilities, but most people experience milder effects.
Lack of Government Data and Support
Guinea’s government does not keep records on autism. The World Health Organization estimates that about one in 127 people worldwide had autism in 2021, but prevalence in many low- and middle-income countries remains unknown. Diallo decided to stand up for her son and seek better care. She has four children but loves him especially “because I’ve suffered so much with him.”
In Guinea, with about 15 million people, only a few schools cater to children with autism, costing up to $300 per month. Many families cannot afford this in a country where the minimum wage is 550,000 Guinea francs ($63) monthly, and 43.7% live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. Dr. Alhassane Cherif, a psychologist in Conakry, said, “In Guinea, the care for autism is very poor. Private organizations and nonprofits are the only ones addressing this disorder and training staff to try to identify children.”
A Rare Free School Brings Hope
Balde first attended private and public schools, but none fit. His teachers did not introduce him to writing and reading, commenting that he “has no provision for school.” Diallo refused to take him out. Her late husband “went to every corner of the country” looking for assistance before dying in a road accident. The solution came in their hometown: in 2023, Balde enrolled in the newly opened Salim Foundation for Children with Autism, a rare free school. The school’s outreach program learned of Balde and visited his family.
The school teaches Balde and 14 other students in a large house with three teachers, bright toys, and animal pictures. It is registered with Guinea’s educational authorities but receives no government funding. Mariam Aisha Barry, a social worker and philanthropist, founded the school inspired by her daughter with autism. Children learn basic skills like identifying objects, assembling toys, and operating a TV remote. Last year, the school organized what it called the country’s first international seminar on autism. Barry said, “Our mission is to break the stigma surrounding autism through awareness-raising, family training and advocacy for better care. These children deserve acceptance, understanding, education and unconditional love.”
Stigma Persists Despite Progress
Now 15, Balde has to spend his life outside school away from many community members who still attribute his condition to an unknown “evil” and want him shunned. Diallo said, “I categorically refused.” Studies on autism are often conducted in high-income countries, with less attention to places like Guinea. Sub-Saharan Africa is “critically understudied” in autism research, according to a 2023 study in the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, which noted the region’s “rich genetic diversity” could improve global understanding of autism.
Hassanatou Diallo, advocacy officer at the Salim school, said, “We have 15 autistic children here, but there are several hundred in this city. Some parents hide them in their homes to avoid mockery and stigmatization.” Balde’s mother remains determined: “My most ardent wish is that he knows how to read and write.”
