The Autism Association of Barbados has renewed calls for urgent government action on teacher support, faster diagnostic assessments, and long-term housing for adults on the spectrum, as the island prepares to observe World Autism Day on Thursday with a focus on inclusion and dignity.
Autism Association president Fredrick Johnson put specialised school aides at the top of a list of urgent policy priorities to address critical gaps for the neurodivergent community.
Ahead of the opening of the association’s new headquarters and resource centre, said that while the theme of the day, “Autism and Humanity: Every Life Has Value”, is a powerful sentiment, it must be backed by structural changes within the ministries for education, technological and vocational training and social services.
A primary concern for the association is the need for inclusive education, Johnson said, arguing that placing children on the spectrum in mainstream classrooms without adequate support is “practically impossible” for educators and unfair to students.
“If you talk about inclusivity in schools, that’s all well and good, but you must have teachers’ aides to make it work; otherwise, it’s just a word,” Johnson told Barbados TODAY. “Teachers have to cover both ends of the spectrum at once, from very bright neurotypical children to those with specialised needs. It is too much to ask. We need qualified aides or even trained parent volunteers to prop up the system.”
The president also flagged the “greatest challenge” facing young Barbadian parents: the bottleneck in obtaining an official diagnosis.
While acknowledging the talent of government specialists, he noted that the current waiting list is a significant barrier to a child’s development.
“To be given a waiting list of maybe 12 months for an assessment at age three is just not fair,” he explained. “You need early intervention as soon as possible to give that child the best setup for the future. The Association can make recommendations, but bridging that diagnostic gap remains a major hurdle.”
Looking beyond childhood, Johnson urged policymakers to begin planning for “sheltered or supervised accommodation” for mature adults on the spectrum. He noted that many ageing parents live in fear of what happens to their children — now in their 30s or 40s — once their primary caregivers are gone.
“Our centre is the first step, but sheltered accommodation should be on the horizon,” Johnson said. “These adults want to be independent, just like the rest of us, but they may need someone in the background to help when they are challenged. We need a plan for the future so these individuals aren’t left with nowhere to go.”
Despite these national challenges, the association is celebrating the opening of its own facility. The centre will focus on providing “basic life skills” to teenagers and young adults, teaching them the fundamentals of independent living.
“The centre will give education in how to take care of themselves — basic skills like cooking in a kitchen, setting tables, observing sanitary conditions and even laundry,” Johnson said. “We as neurotypical people do these things automatically, but these young adults need to be taught so they can look after themselves as time goes on.”
The facility will also act as a vital support hub for parents, offering workshops to help caregivers manage the emotional and mental demands of the diagnosis.
“We want to get the message across: recognise the child first, not the disability,” Johnson said. “A person on the spectrum has potential and abilities. Don’t write them off with a label.”
(RR)
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