Pillay S, Duncan M, de Vries PJ. Autism in the Western Cape province of South Africa: Rates, socio-demographics, disability and educational characteristics in one million school children. Autism. May 2021

This study by Sarosha Pillay, Madeleine Duncan, and Prof Petrus de Vries is the first to inform the rates, distribution and profile of needs of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a South African education system. The authors performed a comprehensive database search of all children with ASD in the formal education system in the Western Cape and compared the findings with population demographic expectations of the province. ASD and co-occurring conditions were identified at lower rates than expected with a disproportionate representation of self-reported race and language of the ASD sample compared to the Western Cape demographics. The majority of children with ASD attended special schools in urban areas. Strengthening of education systems for children with ASD in South Africa is proposed. The article can be accessed here.