A Somali mother with eight children will brag endlessly about her eldest son graduating from high school and her eldest daughter’s obedience, but when asked about her child who is special in their own way, she will be at a loss for words. Too embarrassed to open up about someone in her bloodline having special needs. She will make excuse after excuse for them, saying things like, ‘You can barely tell,’ or ‘He’ll grow out of it.’

The biggest problem in the Somali diaspora is not that 1 in 16 Somali Minnesotans has autism; the problem is that they don’t believe in the concept of neurodiversity.

The Somali community has been shaming, ignoring, and belittling the neurodivergent community for far too long. It’s time to call them out and to educate them.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that is known to be naturally caused by differences in the brain, which often lead to obstacles to social communication and interaction. This does not make the person lesser or unworthy. It shows a difference in the way they think, which makes them unique. The rise in autism in the Somali community is not local to Minnesota. Studies have shown that in Sweden, autism in the Somali community was four to five times more prevalent when compared to its non-Somali counterparts.

Somali immigrant families are constantly connected with their culture and network, and this can shape how they see autism. For example, Somali elders might be baffled by a lack of eye contact when speaking to a neurodivergent individual. And despite the higher rates in the community, Somalis still refer to autism as a ‘Western disease,’ and many refuse to acknowledge it altogether.

Telling people to pray for your ‘sick’ child, but not giving them the recognition they deserve, shows the shackles Somalis put themselves in because of a stigma we created and uphold.

It’s time to dismantle the badge of shame and stop treating Somalis with autism as second-class citizens.

You might be thinking that this isn’t possible. That your family will never change its ways.

Well, I am here to tell you that slow change is better than no change.

Our community will not change its minds overnight.

Advocacy matters now more than ever as the community grows. People are getting married and having kids left and right. They don’t know what they’re getting themselves into. They don’t know that the autism rates in the community went from 1 in 32 to 1 in 16 in less than 10 years.

And the kids you knew who were diagnosed with autism back in the day are now grown adults, being rejected from the community, socially and emotionally. If a person can’t turn to their own community in times of need, who can they turn to?

Parents are left struggling to find Eid accommodations for their children, and adults are left empty-handed in search of a potential partner. All this because of a diagnosis?

The Somali community needs to do better as a whole.

However, there are Somali advocates out there who are actively fighting for change and making a real, vibrant impact on our community.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Hussein Awjama coined the term ‘Maangaar.’ It means ‘unique mind’ and is now used to describe autism in Somali.

And Anisa Hagi-Mohamed, a 2025 Bush Fellow, is paving the path for Somali moms. While balancing three children, all of whom are on the spectrum, she is consistently upholding the Maangaar community and helping it thrive. She is out in the local community giving talks at local mosques, advancing swimming equity for autistic children and their families, and supporting confidence and authenticity for all individuals.

I encourage you to get involved and become an advocate. Offer support to families and individuals in the community who are struggling in silence. Defend them online and in person.

Reach out to info@maangaarvoices.org, info@somaliautism.org, and ask how you can help reverse the stigma!