Autism Center Director Says Society and Schools Remain Biggest Challenges for Inclusion

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Social adaptation and educational inclusion remain the biggest challenges for children with autism and other neurodivergent conditions, according to the director of a specialized center who says barriers to acceptance persist.

Sayuri Garcia, director of the KODOMO Specialized Autism Center, said society often struggles to accommodate different conditions. “The biggest problem is society because we’re not used to dealing with other types of conditions,” Garcia said. “At the end of the day, they’re regular children with different characteristics and abilities.”

She emphasized that not all children with autism have severe limitations and called for greater recognition of human diversity and empathy across all social spaces.

Schools Lack Preparedness

In the educational sphere, Garcia explained that many schools still aren’t prepared to handle these cases, forcing civil society organizations to step in with guidance, training and support. “It also has a lot to do with the commitment each place has to children,” she added.

The KODOMO center currently serves about 60 children with various conditions including autism, ADHD, language disorders and behavioral issues. In the mornings, it operates as a Center for Independent Life, focusing on providing tools to improve quality of life and promote social and school integration, particularly for children not accepted in regular institutions.

In the afternoons, it functions as a therapeutic center with individual and group sessions.

Increased Visibility, Not Necessarily More Cases

Garcia clarified that while autism diagnoses appear to be increasing, this likely reflects greater visibility due to improved access to information, social media and specialists, allowing more families to identify and address these conditions.

The work of organizations like KODOMO, she concluded, remains essential for building a more inclusive society where diversity is understood and respected from childhood.