The psychology department of Presidency University, Bangalore, recently marked its presence at the 3rd Global Autism Convention 2026, held from January 21st to 25th at St. John’s Auditorium, Bengaluru. Centered on the theme “Autism in the Global South: Culture, Community, and Neurodiversity,” the convention served as an international hub for clinicians, educators, and self-advocates to explore equitable and culturally relevant autism support. Our students took full advantage of the specialized e-poster viewing sessions, engaging directly with presenters to understand the recent developments and ground-level interventions in the field. This immersive experience provided them with a firsthand look at innovations emerging from low and middle-income countries, reinforcing their academic training with global perspectives.

Our faculty members further enriched the academic discourse by participating in rigorous scientific sessions and Q&A dialogues. During a pivotal Q&A session, Presidency University faculty Mr. Azeem Dana, Asst.Professor – Psychology, observed that while the program extensively covered topics such as neurobiological perspectives and medical comorbidities, it lacked a dedicated focus on Prevention. They suggested that future conventions incorporate sessions on the prevention of autism, arguing that since all morbidities have an underlying cause, focusing on prevention represents a critical step in reducing autism in children. This advocacy for a broader scientific approach reflects the institution's commitment to the convention’s goal of taking collective steps toward systems that both support and understand the causes behind neurodiversity.