Children with Autism in the Bristol Somali Community

This research project, led by CLAHRC West in partnership with Autism Independence, sought to understand the experiences of Somali families in Bristol raising children with autism. The project explored how autism is perceived within the Somali community, how families come to understand their child’s diagnosis, and what kinds of health and social care support are most helpful or lacking.

Parents and members of the local community were actively involved at every stage of the research process—from co-designing interview questions to shaping the analysis and dissemination of findings. This commitment to co-creation improved the relevance and cultural sensitivity of the study, and represents a good practice model of community engagement and partnership.

Read more about the project and its findings using the following links:

Project homepage

“It was like walking without knowing where I was going”: A Qualitative Study of Autism in a UK Somali Migrant Community by Fox et al.

‘You are labelled by your children’s disability’ – A community-based, participatory study of stigma among Somali parents of children with autism living in the United Kingdom by Selman et al.