Opening Session and Anderson Center International Panel

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021), 1 in 160 children worldwide may be considered autistic or as having autism, which is equivalent to over 49 million people. Research has strongly supported that autism affects cultures equally; however, the majority of services are located in wealthier countries such as the United States. Additionally, awareness and acceptance of autism and other related needs vary widely around the world, as do cultural considerations. It is therefore critical to work in conjunction with our colleagues worldwide to engage in culturally humble dissemination and implementation of evidenced-based support. This panel will feature alumni International Fellows from the Anderson Center International program, who will share what they learned from training onsite with Anderson Center for Autism, as well as considerations for increasing autism understanding in their geographic areas.