FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION: LIBERIA LAUNCHES NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS INITIATIVE.

FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION: LIBERIA LAUNCHES NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS INITIATIVE

Every child deserves a school that understands their needs, teachers equipped to support them, and a society that recognizes their potential.

On November 10, 2026, Liberia officially launched the National Autism Awareness Initiative, championed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and First Lady Mrs. Kartumu Yarta Boakai, marking an important step toward strengthening support for children with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

At the launch, Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah emphasized that awareness must lead to practical changes in how children are educated and supported.

She highlighted the need for early identification, specialized teacher training, stronger support for families, and inclusive learning environments. The Ministry is also reviewing Liberia’s Inclusive Education Policy to strengthen its response to the diverse needs of learners.

The Minister’s message was clear: Our education system must be prepared to accommodate the needs of every learner, rather than expecting children to adapt to systems that exclude them.

The initiative, supported by technical contributions from the Woods System of Care in Pennsylvania, USA, calls for stronger collaboration among government institutions, educators, healthcare professionals, families, and communities.

Awareness helps us recognize the barriers. Our collective responsibility is to remove them.

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