Guyana to open first autism school as disability services expansion accelerates

Guyana is set to establish its first specialised school for children with autism later this year, in a move officials say will significantly expand the country’s support services and inclusive education system for children living with disabilities.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by First Lady Arya Ali while addressing the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Ali said the new facility will be built at the Cyril Potter College of Education in Turkeyen and will form part of a broader national strategy to improve access to specialised learning environments for children with developmental and physical disabilities.

The development comes as the government continues to increase funding for disability-related programmes. In Guyana’s 2026 national budget, $316.5 million has been allocated toward initiatives supporting children and persons living with disabilities (PWDs), including education, social services, and accessibility upgrades.

Officials say the planned autism-focused institution builds on recent reforms aimed at strengthening inclusive education. In 2025, Guyana opened its first school dedicated to children with hearing impairments and expanded retrofitting efforts across schools and public buildings to improve accessibility. Authorities say those upgrades are intended to support literacy and skills training for approximately 830 persons with disabilities.

Beyond education, the government has also rolled out a series of financial and social assistance measures targeting the disabled community. More than 26,700 persons with disabilities now receive permanent disability benefits, while monthly assistance payments have been increased to $22,000. In addition, beneficiaries received a one-time cash grant of $50,000 under a broader social support initiative.

First Lady Ali said the expansion of services reflects Guyana’s commitment to building a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities can participate fully in national life. She also called for stronger collaboration between governments, international organisations, technology stakeholders, and disability advocates to advance global accessibility standards.

The new autism school is expected to further formalise specialised education pathways in Guyana, addressing long-standing gaps in services for neurodivergent children and strengthening early intervention and learning support systems.

Officials say the initiative signals a continued shift toward more structured disability education in the country, alongside ongoing investments in infrastructure and social protection programmes.