Kazakhstan's autism crisis leaves families struggling without support

Families in Kazakhstan are struggling to care for children with autism, often without proper support. Despite constitutional promises of citizen welfare, thousands face the challenge alone. The issue has grown sharply, with autism diagnoses rising fivefold in just five years. Over 21,000 children with autism are now registered in Kazakhstan. In 2022, the rate reached around 60 cases per 100,000 children. Yet, most families receive little help, forcing one parent to leave work just to provide full-time care.

The country has roughly 80 rehabilitation centres and follows international autism support standards. But the system remains weak, with no single agency fully responsible for coordination. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, and Ministry of Education play only limited roles. MP Guldara Nurumova recently highlighted the systemic failures in supporting people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She proposed new measures, including an interagency support framework, autism screening for children under one, and better family assistance programmes. Currently, only a small fraction of those with autism achieve full social integration.

The lack of a unified support system leaves many families in Kazakhstan without real assistance. Nurumova's proposals aim to address gaps in early diagnosis and long-term care. Without stronger intervention, the challenges for those with autism—and their families—will likely persist.