Ted X Speaker Reveals What it’s Like Having Autistic Son in Somali Community
2 April 2019
There is no word for Autism in the Somali language and it often goes ignored.
A British Somali woman has organised a ground breaking event in Bristol to raise awareness of autism in her community.
Nura Aabe from Bristol is holding an event at the Watershed to educate, dispel myths, and highlight an unspoken issue.
Research has indicated that Somali people have a higher statistical chance of developing the condition. Yet despite this it often goes undiagnosed and rarely recognised within the culture.
The families with autistic children, therefore, experience difficulties accessing and engaging effectively with local services and Nura wants to create a dialogue.
It is hoped the event will build a bridge for both Somali families and professional practitioners.
Nura’s son Zak has autism and found it very difficult within her own community to get acceptance of the condition.
She said: “There is no word for Autism in the Somali language, it is not recognised or seen as something of concern.”
