Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requires early identification and structured intervention to optimize developmental outcomes. However, in many African contexts, access to timely diagnosis and specialized care remains limited, particularly within public health systems. This presentation explores an integrated model of autism care combining private clinical practice and public hospital intervention, based on ongoing work at Caliomac Pediatric Clinic and the Hospital Geral do Bengo in Angola. The model emphasizes early screening, multidisciplinary assessment, and family-centered intervention, incorporating speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA)-informed strategies. A key component of this approach is parental training, empowering caregivers to implement therapeutic strategies within daily routines, thereby increasing intervention intensity beyond clinical settings. In the hospital context, large-scale developmental screening and therapeutic tracking have revealed significant challenges, including high dropout rates in early intervention programs, delayed diagnosis, and socioeconomic barriers affecting continuity of care. Data from therapeutic screening initiatives highlight a critical decline in engagement within the first weeks of intervention, reinforcing the need for adaptive, accessible, and family-integrated care models. This presentation proposes practical and scalable solutions, including structured parental training programs, community-based awareness, and improved coordination between health and education systems. By bridging clinical expertise with public health realities, this work contributes to the global discussion on autism research and innovation, emphasizing context-sensitive approaches that are both evidence-based and feasible in low-resource settings.

Dr. Line Duarte is a pediatric neurodevelopment specialist and emerging global voice in autism care and early intervention in low-resource settings. She leads innovative clinical and community-based programs at Caliomac Pediatric Clinic and Hospital Geral do Bengo, Angola. Her work focuses on early identification, multidisciplinary intervention, and empowering families through scalable, evidence-informed models.
Dr. Duarte has led large-scale screening initiatives, generating critical insights into access gaps and intervention retention in underserved populations. She is committed to advancing context-sensitive autism care by bridging research, clinical practice, and public health systems to improve outcomes for children and families globally.