Autism isn’t the problem, stigma is :: Mmegi Online

In this article, NTIBINYANE NTIBINYANE* argues that autism is not a defect but a difference, and that stigma, not autism, limits children’s lives. He calls for clearer public understanding, culturally grounded support, trained teachers, and national policies that shift responsibility from families alone to society as a whole

How many autistic children in Botswana, and across Africa, are hidden away because parents fear what the community will say? How many families struggle in silence, not because their child is difficult, but because stigma makes it impossible to ask for help? And how often do we hear a child labeled “bewitched,” “spoiled,” or “naughty” simply because they behave differently?

These questions force us to look honestly at how we view autism and disability in our society. They challenge us to reflect on where stigma comes from and why it continues to limit the lives of autistic people and their families.

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