One year after its establishment at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition (GAAC) has returned to the international stage with an expanded membership and renewed commitments to accelerate global autism inclusion and support. Founded by Qatar Foundation, Autism Speaks, and UNICEF, with backing from the World Health Organization, the coalition now includes additional partners such as the Education Above All Foundation, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation (BUF), Autism Impact Fund, and Qatar’s Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) and Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).
During the 81st session of UNGA, GAAC and Qatar co-hosted a high-level event titled “Accelerating Global Action on Autism: GAAC from Commitment to Implementation.” The gathering brought together representatives from 18 countries, as well as officials from governments, multilateral organizations, researchers, private sector leaders, investors, and civil society, to discuss strategies for closing systemic gaps in autism services worldwide and utilizing emerging technologies for improved outcomes. Participants from Tanzania, Poland, Bangladesh, and Georgia contributed perspectives on regional challenges and progress.
Since its inception, GAAC has developed a hub model aimed at facilitating coordinated autism action at regional levels, with the newly launched GAAC Regional Hub for Central Asia and the South Caucasus led by BUF. This Hub seeks to leverage Kazakhstan’s successful Asyl Miras model by sharing expertise, training systems, quality standards, and family support approaches to foster sustainable, evidence-based autism services regionally. It will collaborate with existing hubs in Doha and the United States to enhance the development and deployment of innovative solutions across diverse contexts.
Among the coalition’s notable initiatives is the deployment of Floreo Skills XP, a virtual reality platform designed to help neurodivergent individuals develop social, communication, and daily living skills. This technology will undergo multi-country pilot programs, expanding evidence-based interventions throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.
Qatar Foundation’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) will play a key role in advancing research, technology, and innovation within GAAC’s MENA Regional Hub, utilizing its multidisciplinary expertise and the A-sense Center of Excellence to support the scaling of autism-related solutions. Autism Speaks, serving as GAAC’s Secretariat, is spearheading the Lived Experience Leadership Council, which ensures autistic individuals and their families have direct input on the coalition’s priorities and initiatives.
GAAC is also introducing a portfolio of flagship projects aiming to address critical gaps in global autism policy and services. These include the Global Autism Index to measure countries’ progress on autism inclusion, a Global Autism Data Platform for shared policymaking evidence, a Workforce Accelerator to expand service capacity, a Technology & Innovation Lab focusing on affordable AI-enabled tools, and a Global Accelerator & Knowledge Hub to facilitate knowledge exchange between nations.
The coalition builds upon nearly two decades of advocacy efforts led by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. Her initial proposal resulted in the establishment of World Autism Awareness Day by the UN in 2007. Under her leadership, GAAC represents a shift from awareness to implementing actionable support systems worldwide.
Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN, HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, emphasized Qatar Foundation’s integrated approach combining early diagnosis, education, employment, and community inclusion, reflected in its Autism Strategy 2025-2035. HE Dr. Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Public Health Affairs and former Minister of Public Health, reiterated Qatar’s commitment to scaling partnerships and practical support for autistic individuals globally.
Qatar Fund for Development Director General, HE Fahad bin Hamad al-Sulaiti, highlighted the importance of inclusive and sustainable development initiatives that reach all populations, including those with autism, stressing QFFD’s role in mobilizing resources and fostering collaboration across sectors.
Dr. Hilal Lashuel, Research, Development, and Innovation Adviser at Qatar Foundation, underscored that autism challenges and solutions are global and interlinked, necessitating sustained investment and innovation partnerships to ensure that advances in diagnosis, policy, and intervention benefit autistic individuals worldwide.
As GAAC moves into its next phase, it seeks to translate collective expertise and resources into measurable global impact, urging more stakeholders to join its effort to build inclusive systems and expand opportunities for autistic individuals and their families across all regions.