Health Minister Michael Joseph says he was shocked by the apparent scale of autism in Antigua and Barbuda, a realization that reinforced the need for a newly announced Cognitive Behaviour Centre aimed at supporting children with autism and their families.
Speaking on Pointe FM’s On Pointe programme, Joseph said the issue came into sharper focus during the recent autism awareness activities, where he reviewed data and heard directly from parents about the challenges they face.
“It highlighted that CDC estimation is one out of every 31 children is diagnosed with ASD. Again, that for me is like a wow moment, like what’s happening here?” Joseph said.
The minister said his concerns had already been growing after meeting numerous families affected by autism while campaigning in St. John’s Rural West.
“During the five weeks when I was doing campaign in Rural West, I’ve met, I kid you not, eight individuals that had children with autism at varying levels,” he said.
Joseph said the number of families he encountered in a single constituency suggested the issue was more widespread than he had previously understood.
He noted that many parents told him they struggle to balance employment and caregiving responsibilities, particularly when caring for children with more severe forms of autism.
The minister said he was further moved after hearing emotional testimony from parents during a recent event, where families appealed for greater support services.
“She’s like, you know, we need more support. It’s so difficult as a parent,” Joseph recalled.
Those experiences led him to begin work on the establishment of a Cognitive Behaviour Centre, which he said will initially operate from the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre before eventually moving into a dedicated facility.
“I said to Dr. Bell-Jarvis, we have to do something,” Joseph said.
The minister revealed that discussions are underway to recruit a specialist with experience in autism services to return to Antigua and assist with setting up the programme. The ministry is also seeking occupational therapists and speech pathologists to support the initiative.
Joseph also disclosed that a university in Atlanta with a department focused on Autism Spectrum Disorder and social integration has expressed interest in partnering with Antigua and Barbuda.
The centre is expected to provide support not only for children and their parents but also for schools and teachers.
Joseph said the programme will help identify appropriate educational pathways for children on different parts of the autism spectrum and assist schools in integrating students where possible.
“I think integration has to be at the forefront, but we also have to be understanding that there are different levels,” he said.
The minister said the long-term goal is to create a system that provides education, developmental support and opportunities for people with autism throughout their lives while easing the burden on families.