The Third Global Autism Convention, organized by St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, from 21—25 January 2026, brought together clinicians, educators, families, self-advocates, and policy leaders to explore autism through a lens of neurodiversity, equity, and cultural relevance, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Organized in collaboration with partner NGOs such as the Autism Society of India and the Spastics Society of Karnataka, among others, the Convention built on foundations laid in 2011 and 2018. Through keynotes, symposia, workshops, panels, paper and poster sessions, and competitions, it acted as a platform for dialog, learning, and action across cultures and contexts. In keeping with previous themes which focused on community-rooted dialogue for ground-level interventions, this year’s theme was ‘Autism in the Global South: Culture, Community, and Neurodiversity’.
Over 85 experts, practitioners and community voices from across India, Ghana, UAE, England, Singapore, Canada and Tunisia lent their perspectives to thematic sessions on Global South and Equity; Gender and Diversity; Innovation and Technology; Clinical Advances; Family, Community and Wellbeing; and Research and Knowledge Sharing. The workshops on using AAC in therapy settings, feeding and eating disorders in autistic individuals, managing co-occurring anxiety, play with purpose, assessments, challenging behaviors and adaptive skills received an overwhelming response.
Our Founder and Executive Director Jo Chopra spoke at a symposium on inclusive child development centers. Describing the event as a “refreshingly inclusive move in the right direction,” Jo was impressed by the “multiple sessions featuring remarkable self-advocates, parents and non-medical professionals, tiered pricing (above 65: FREE!) and zero pharma support”. Laced through it all, she said, was the “sadness that Dr Ashok Mysore is no longer with us”. The conference was one of his many contributions to the autism community.
Geetanjali Purohit, Founder of The Story Forge Collective, described the event as a reminder “that change is possible when inclusion is designed in, not added on later”. Pooja Sharma, who runs The Sarvodaya Collective stated that the event was “definitely inclusive, (with a) very well thought out agenda, executed meticulously and with so much warmth!”
