Understanding Autism

Abstract

This chapter focuses on understanding Autism from African perspectives and how these African perspectives can be used to create learning spaces for learners with Autism in its education system. Human societies have developed systems for responding to health related problems and for improving quality of life for people with disabilities. Every region of the world has a form of tradition that is used to understand causes and symptoms of their health conditions. There is currently an increased recognition of the value to health care of indigenous healing systems world over. In fact, the majority of the world's population uses indigenous systems for their health problems. Africa has developed indigenous health systems of responding to health problems that are grounded in local culture. The African health care systems evolved from the beliefs, attitudes, customs, methods, and established practice for improving human conditions or elevating the quality of human life.