Global autism guidelines for care and workforce education: progress, gaps, and the way forward

Abstract

Addressing the complex and evolving needs of individuals with autism requires more than incremental improvement; it demands a rethinking
of how care systems are designed, delivered, and evaluated, and how we educate the health workforce. While existing clinical guidelines and resources provide valuable foundations, they often remain fragmented and may not fully reflect the diversity of the populations they serve. This paper presents a critical analysis of existing global autism care frameworks, highlighting gaps that particularly impact underserved populations, especially in low-and middle-income settings. While many guidelines emphasize early diagnosis and evidence-based therapies, they frequently overlook essential areas such as trauma-informed care, sexual health, caregiver support, transitions across the lifespan, and more. This paper offers a fresh, equity-driven perspective and proposes actionable, context-sensitive strategies to reimagine autism care. For mental health and social care professionals and trainees, including primary care providers and other healthcare practitioners, as well as those supporting individuals with autism in public health and social care settings, this paper highlights key challenges and outlines practical solutions. A full set of detailed recommendations is presented in our comprehensive report.