The educational needs of persons on the autism spectrum remains a top priority as the Government of Guyana will begin construction of its first school for autistic students in 2026 at the Cyril Potter College of Education.

This was announced during the reading of Guyana’s National Budget 2026 on Monday by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

He said alongside this, Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Centres will be developed in every region for students who require specialised learning.

It was noted in 2025, Guyana expanded inclusive education and teacher training in special education needs.

The National Commission on Disability (NCD) in its World Autism Awareness Day message in 2025, said it completed its Hinterland Survey of Persons with Disabilities. Data revealed region 1-Barima Waini with the highest number of persons with Autism, a total of 66.

Region 7- Cuyuni-Mazaruni recorded total of 14 cases of Autism, followed by region 8- Potaro-Siparuni with a total of 34 Autistic persons.

In the interim, region 9- Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo recorded 27 cases.

From the NCD’s previous National Household Surveys on Persons with Disabilities, region 2- Pomeroon-Supenaam recorded a total of only 5 Autistic cases.

Region 3- Essequibo Islands- West Demerara recorded 33 cases of Autism, followed by region 4- Mahaica-Berbice with the highest number of people with Autism in Guyana at a record 144.

Meanwhile, region 5- Mahaica-Berbice with 9 cases, region 6- East Berbice-Corentyne with a total of 23 cases and region 10-Upper Demerara-Berbice documented a total of 17 cases of Autism.

The National Commission on Disability has a total of 372 recorded cases of Autistic persons living throughout ten administrative regions.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder, constitutes a diverse group of conditions related to development of the brain. Characteristics may be detected in early childhood, but autism is often not diagnosed until much later.