Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. It affects millions of people globally, and in the UK it is estimated that one in 100 children have a diagnosis, but despite it being so common, there is still a lot of stigma and misconception surrounding it, especially in the Black community.

As a parent to a recently diagnosed autistic little boy, I have witnessed some of the stigma first hand through friends and family and think it’s an important conversation that we should no longer be afraid to have.

But why is there so much stigma around autism in the Black community?