Treffer: Autism Management and Inclusion in East Java, Indonesia: A Reflection on Opportunities and Challenges

Objectives: Amidst the challenges due to the increase in autism cases, autism awareness in Indonesia remains limited, hindering effective identification, intervention, and inclusion. Contributing factors include a lack of professional training, inadequate assessment and evaluation practices, high service costs, persistent stigma, and insufficient school inclusion. This paper explains how these challenges are being addressed by a small group of advocates, supported by the Sister-State Partnership between East Java and Western Australia. Methods: This article uses a knowledge mobilisation framework to analyse capacity-building efforts in East Java and reflects on future opportunities and challenges in autism management. Results: Since 2011, the partnership have developed contextually relevant strategies for autism identification, intervention, and parent support, drawing on knowledge from Western Australia and local experiences. As a result, awareness and understanding of autism are growing, and attitudes are gradually improving. Conclusions: The findings offer insights applicable to other low- and middle-income countries seeking sustainable and inclusive approaches.

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