In 2016-2017, a research study was initiated by the American Moroccan Competencies Network and Autism Speaks and carried out in collaboration with Maretha de Jonge from Association Nour/University Hospital Utrecht/Leiden University. The goal was to investigate the service use, challenges, and needs of caregivers of children with autism in Morocco. We were specifically interested in similarities and differences between caregivers living in urban and rural areas. The research team worked closely together with parent associations, including el-Ibtissama in Ouarzazate.
It was a pleasure and an honor to work together with parent associations, volunteers, students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Global Studies Program, and a great research team. We asked 131 caregivers of children with autism from 5 regions in Morocco about their needs. The findings of this study may help policy and program makers to improve autism care and may empower parents.
The study has been published in 2023.
We are very grateful to all parents participating in the study, as well as to parent associations, volunteers, students, the AMCN and to Autism Speaks for funding the project.