Autistic People & Families in Beirut - Stress, Services & AI Support

I'm beginning work on a reporting project I've wanted to do for a long time, and I need help finding the right people. The question at the center: why do we forget autistic people so easily, especially in times of crisis? I'm reporting from Beirut, on how autistic children and adults — and the families, therapists, and educators around them — have been navigating stress and anxiety during a period of sustained conflict. I also want to understand what's happening with the new category of AI tools being marketed to support autistic users, and whether any of it reaches people here. I want to report this with care and with the community. I'd be grateful to connect with: • Advocates in Lebanon or the diaspora • Parents, caregivers, siblings • Clinical psychologists, behavioral and occupational therapists working in autism • Special educators and school counselors • Researchers working on AI and autism, especially anyone building for Arabic-speaking users • NGOs and community organizations serving autistic people in Lebanon — SKILD, Lebanese Autism Society, Arcenciel, and others Conversations can be on or off the record, in English or Arabic. Autistic voices are especially welcome. If this touches your work or your life, or you know someone it does, I'd love to hear from you. DMs are open or reach me at [email redacted]. A share helps it travel further than my own network — the people I most need to hear from may not be here yet. #Autism #Neurodiversity #Lebanon #AI #MentalHealth