FOUNDER MARIA OKAFOR SPEAKS ON BRIDGING CARE AND INCLUSION AT RBM AUTISM SUMMIT 2025

Founder of the RBM Autism Foundation, Maria Okafor, has shed light on the inspiration, challenges, and impact of this year’s RBM Autism Summit, themed “Beyond the Label.” The summit, which brought together parents, healthcare professionals, advocates, and policymakers, sought to bridge the gap between autism care and societal inclusion in Nigeria.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Maria explained that the theme was born from a desire to change the narrative around autism in Nigeria. “‘Beyond the Label’ was inspired by the need to move past stereotypes and stigmas associated with autism,” she said. “We wanted to focus on individuality and potential rather than defining people by their diagnosis.”

According to her, the summit aimed to address a critical disconnect between care comprising medical, therapeutic, and support services and inclusion, which relates to equal opportunities and social acceptance. “In Nigeria, socioeconomic challenges often worsen access to quality care,” Maria noted. “Our goal was to create a collaborative space where care and inclusion are treated as complementary, not separate.”

To achieve this, the summit adopted a unique approach by organizing focus group discussions for four key clusters: parents and individuals with lived experience, advocacy groups, healthcare practitioners and therapists, and policymakers. Each group, she explained, had structured discussion guides designed to ensure that diverse voices were heard and respected.

Maria emphasized that this structure allowed for deeper engagement across sectors that usually operate in silos. “We brought everyone to the same table,” she said. “From parents to policymakers, everyone had a voice and that’s where real progress begins.”

The summit also featured an art exhibition and raffle draw under the RBM Transform a Child Future Initiative, a fundraising drive to support subsidized therapy for families of children with autism. The event saw enthusiastic participation, with all art pieces successfully auctioned. Maria described the outcome as “a beautiful demonstration of community commitment.”

She added, “Seeing people bid passionately for artworks to fund therapy sessions showed that inclusion is not just policy; it’s people coming together to make a difference.”

Beyond the emotional highlights, the summit provided a platform for participants to identify pressing issues. Parents spoke about financial barriers to therapy, advocates called for greater public awareness, and professionals discussed the need for standardized autism care training. Policymakers, meanwhile, acknowledged the absence of robust national inclusion policies, a conversation Maria said could shape future legislative actions.

While the event was not without its challenges such as ensuring accessibility and balancing diverse perspectives Maria said the outcome justified the effort. “In a country where stigma still silences many, creating a safe and inclusive dialogue was no small feat,” she remarked.

Among the expected outcomes of the summit are expanded therapy support through the RBM Transform a Child Future Initiative, collaborative networks between professionals and advocates, and policy advocacy for autism-inclusive education and healthcare frameworks.

Looking ahead, Maria expressed optimism that the summit would leave a lasting impact. “This is not just another event; it’s a movement,” she affirmed. “We’re setting a new standard for how Nigeria talks about, supports, and includes people with autism.”

She concluded by reaffirming RBM’s commitment to long-term change. “Our focus is sustainability. The conversations we started here will shape the future of autism care and inclusion in Nigeria,” she said.