Articles #SouthAfricanDoctors

In this article, I highlight the critical healthcare blind spot in South African hospitals regarding neuro-inclusive care. Drawing on my experience as an educator and mother of two children on the spectrum, I share the alarming results of my "Bridging the Gap" survey, revealing that 77.8% of parents were never asked about their child's sensory triggers during hospital visits. I underscore the urgent need for frontline staff training, specifically regarding Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), to prevent healthcare avoidance and move toward a proactive, dignified model of care, but reports that my offers to provide this essential training are being met with bureaucratic silence.