Call for Abstracts

Theme

Scaling Inclusive Autism Support Across Africa: From Early Action to Lifelong Thriving

About the Congress

The Pan-African Congress on Autism (PACA) invites autistic people, families, researchers, practitioners, educators, health professionals, policymakers, advocates, innovators, faith and community leaders, and organisations across Africa and the diaspora to contribute to PACA 2027.

The Congress will examine how Africa can move from promising but isolated initiatives towards inclusive, culturally grounded and sustainable systems of support across the lifespan. We welcome contributions that strengthen evidence, build capacity, influence policy, improve practice and centre the knowledge, leadership and priorities of autistic people and their families.

Who Should Submit?

PACA values different forms of knowledge. Submissions are welcome from established and emerging researchers, autistic people, family members, students, service providers, teachers, clinicians, policymakers, civil society organisations, community and faith leaders, entrepreneurs and technology developers. Academic qualifications are not required for lived-experience or practice-based submissions.

Conference Tracks

1. Early Identification and Developmental Support: Timely, accessible and culturally appropriate identification, referral, early action and developmental support.
2. Communication, AAC and Complex Support Needs: Communication access, augmentative and alternative communication, sensory needs and support for people with complex or profound support needs.
3. Education and Inclusive Learning: Inclusive education, teacher preparation, reasonable accommodation, accessible curricula, school transitions and neurodiversity-affirming learning.
4. Adolescence, Transition and Employment: Transition planning, vocational development, higher education, employment, entrepreneurship and economic participation.
5. Adult Autism, Supported Living and Independence: Adult diagnosis, community living, supported decision-making, relationships, ageing, and independent or interdependent living.
6. Health, Mental Health and Co-occurring Conditions: Equitable healthcare, mental health, epilepsy, intellectual disability, sleep, nutrition, reproductive health and other co-occurring conditions.
7. Families, Caregivers and Community Support: Family wellbeing, sibling experiences, respite, peer support, economic resilience, caregiver capacity and community-based support.
8. Autistic Leadership and Lived Experience: Autistic-led research, advocacy, leadership, self-determination, participation and lived-experience knowledge.
9. Culture, Faith and Belonging: African cultural understandings of autism, stigma, faith communities, indigenous knowledge, spirituality, social inclusion and belonging.
10. Policy, Rights and Systems Strengthening: Human rights, legislation, financing, social protection, justice, safeguarding, governance and cross-sector service systems.
11. Research, Data and African Knowledge Production: African-led research, participatory methods, service and population data, evidence translation, ethics and research capacity.
12. Technology, AI and Innovation in Autism Support: Ethical and accessible technology, assistive tools, digital health, AAC innovation, artificial intelligence, data protection and locally appropriate solutions.

Presentation Formats

• Research paper presentation: Original empirical, theoretical, methodological or policy research. 15-minute presentation plus discussion.
• Practice or programme presentation: A service model, intervention, implementation experience or organisational learning. 15-minute presentation plus discussion.
• Autistic-led or lived-experience presentation: Personal, collective, creative or advocacy knowledge led by autistic people. 15-minute presentation plus discussion.
• Panel or roundtable: A coordinated 60-minute session bringing together several contributors and perspectives.
• Interactive workshop or masterclass: A 60- or 90-minute participatory session that develops skills, tests an approach or facilitates collaborative learning.
• Poster presentation: Research, emerging work, student projects, programme results or innovations suitable for visual discussion.
• Technology or innovation demonstration: A practical demonstration of assistive technology, AAC, digital tools or locally developed solutions.

What to Submit

• Presentation title
• Primary conference track and, where relevant, one secondary track
• Submission format
• Abstract of no more than 300 words
• Three to five keywords
• Three learning outcomes
• A short statement explaining the contribution’s relevance to African contexts
• Lead presenter’s name, organisation or affiliation, country and contact information
• Names, affiliations and countries of all co-presenters
• A biography of no more than 100 words for each presenter
• Accessibility and reasonable accommodation requirements
• Confirmation of consent and ethical approval where applicable
• Panel and roundtable proposals: Submit a session overview of no more than 500 words, the purpose and proposed structure of the session, and a brief description of each contributor’s role.

Abstract Guidance

• Research submissions should briefly identify the background or problem, purpose, methods, key findings or anticipated findings, and implications.
• Practice and programme submissions should describe the context, approach, people involved, results or learning, limitations and potential for adaptation or scale.
• Lived-experience submissions may use a narrative, reflective, creative or advocacy structure. They should state the central issue, experience or insight and what participants will learn.
• Workshops should describe the intended participants, learning objectives, facilitation approach, activities and practical outputs.
• Technology demonstrations should explain the problem addressed, intended users, accessibility, evidence or user testing, data protection considerations and relevance to African settings.

Review Criteria

• Alignment with the PACA 2027 theme and conference tracks
• Importance to autistic people, families and communities
• African relevance and contextual grounding
• Clarity, coherence and appropriate evidence
• Inclusion of autistic voices, leadership or meaningful participation
• Practical usefulness and potential for learning, adaptation or application
• Respect for dignity, rights, neurodiversity and cultural diversity
• Ethical integrity and responsible handling of personal information
• Originality or contribution to knowledge, policy, practice or lived-experience understanding
• Suitability for the proposed presentation format

Ethical and Inclusion Expectations

• Use respectful language and describe people in ways consistent with their stated preferences.
• Protect confidentiality and remove identifying information unless explicit, informed consent has been obtained.
• Obtain appropriate consent for photographs, videos, case studies and personal stories.
• State any relevant research ethics approval, funding source and conflict of interest.
• Do not present promotional or commercial material as independent evidence.
• Design presentations for accessibility, including readable slides, plain language where possible, image descriptions and captions for video content.

Important Dates

• Call opens: 1 August 2026
• Submission deadline: 31 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. East Africa Time
• Review period: November 2026
• Notification of decisions: By 15 December 2026
• Presenter confirmation: By 15 January 2027
• Congress: 7–10 April 2027, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

How to Submit

Submit through the PACA 2027 online submission portal https://forms.gle/LRW4bCmXDxwK6KN3A available from 1 August 2026 at www.panafricancongressonautism.org. Submissions sent after the deadline or outside the online submission system may not be considered.

Submission does not constitute registration. Accepted presenters will receive further information about registration, presentation preparation, accessibility support and programme scheduling. Where opportunities for bursaries or presenter support become available, they will be communicated separately.

Selection and Publication

All submissions will be reviewed by the PACA 2027 Scientific and Programme Committee. The Committee may recommend a different presentation format or conference track. Acceptance is subject to presenter confirmation and compliance with Congress requirements. Selected contributors may be invited to submit a full paper or practice brief for a PACA publication or partner journal; such invitations will be communicated separately and will be subject to an additional editorial or peer-review process.

For further details, email: info@panafricancongressonautism.org.