6 Apr 2024

Samoan couple address lack of autism awareness

From , 6:01 am on 6 April 2024
Children participate in drawing activities during World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in Mumbai, India in April 2019.

Photo: AFP

Pacific communities with negative perceptions of autism are being called upon to rethink their views and the language that describes people on the spectrum.

A Samoan husband and wife duo who lead a Wellington-based Pasifika Autism Support Group called PASG are helping to raise awareness this April for Autism appreciation month.

Autism is a spectrum and lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting how people perceive the world, think, behave, and communicate with others.

RNZ Pacific's Eleisha Foon spoke with Autism advocate Daniel Filemoni, who says their Pasifika-led group has been a vehicle for change when it comes to autism.