First Nepal Autism Summit 2026

Background

Nepal stands at a critical juncture in its journey toward inclusive education. The legal commitment is clear as the Constitution of Nepal 2015 enshrines education as a fundamental right, the Act Relating to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2017 mandates inclusion without discrimination, and the School Education Sector Plan (2022-2032) sets an ambitious reform agenda. Despite this, the gap between policy and practice remains wide, and nowhere is it wider than for children with autism.

Nepal officially records just 647,744 people (or 2.2%) with disabilities, in a nation of 30 million where global prevalence predicts 3 million. That gap is a marker of how many children go unidentified, unsupported, and invisible to the very systems built to serve them. When it comes to autistic children, the challenges are particularly acute: a recent study across 13 districts found no academic curriculum adapted for intellectual disability, with children in special classes learning largely self-care skills well into their twenties. Therefore, although Nepal has made significant strides in expanding access to education, with net enrollment in primary education reaching 97% (UNESCO, 2021), for children with disabilities, particularly those with autism, the promise of education remains unfulfilled.

The need

Inclusion does not end at placement or admission in a learning setting. It has to go further toward building a system, and the system is the one that must change. This is the conviction behind the First Nepal Autism Summit, convened by Inclusive Education Nepal, Samanata School and Kathmandu University School of Education. On 19 September 2026, this first Summit will bring government, schools, health professionals, families, and autistic self-advocates into one room, not simply to talk about what needs to change, but to build the machinery that will drive that change after the day ends.

The Summit’s program is structured around key sessions, each focusing on a critical dimension of the autism-inclusive education agenda:

• Early identification and early education 
• Parents, families and legal guardianship 
• Employment and Human Resources
• Policy and Laws
• Research and Academics
• Health, Science and Technology

Each track will take deeper dives into challenges and solutions, and plenary sessions will bring all participants together to set the national agenda and forge cross-sectoral commitments.

Registration

Anyone interested in this issue can join the Summit by filling out the registration form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGiJLXXp6bS5W_v16_S81lvQZvrxfpGN8rljm5frx67uBPDw/viewform

To confirm participation, a commitment fee of NPR 500 per participant is required. Please make the payment using the bank QR code provided below and upload a screenshot or photo of your payment receipt with this registration form. Your registration will be confirmed once the payment has been verified.

Account name: Inclusive Education Nepal, Account number: 03901010090979, Bank: Global IME Bank Ltd

Financial aid:
We are committed to ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent participation. If you are genuinely interested in attending but are unable to pay the commitment fee, please email nepalautismsummit@gmail.com with a brief explanation. Requests for a fee waiver will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Post-Summit plans

Nepal does not lack good intentions, but what it lacks is systemic capacity to translate intention into reality. This summit is designed to build that capacity by focusing on four key levers:

• Shared standards: The Summit will launch an operational standard for converting Nepal’s 380 special education resource classes into genuine resource hubs, spelling out staffing, service requirements, and accountability in concrete terms any local government can adopt.

• Capacity building: From teacher coaching to community health worker training, the summit will spotlight scalable, evidence-based models for building the frontline capacity inclusion demands, with a focus on early identification. 

• Primary data: The national autism in schools’ data brief launched at the Summit will give Nepal its first special education management information system, ensuring that children with autism count in the data that drives decision-making. 

• Roadmaps: The Summit will create an actionable roadmap and an accountability structure to drive Nepal’s inclusive education policy from paper to practice. 

Partnerships

This Summit was not built to belong to Inclusive Education Nepal and Samanata School alone, and we are inviting every organisation working in disability, education, health, or child welfare across Nepal, government bodies, schools, hospitals, universities, organisations of persons with disabilities, and civil society groups alike, to stand alongside us not as guests, but as partners in shaping this day and everything it sets in motion afterward.

Realizing the promise of inclusive education will require sustained effort from all stakeholders. But the Summit represents a crucial starting point: a chance to align vision, build momentum, and chart a course toward a system that sees and serves every child.

Whether you join as a track co-lead setting the national agenda, a contributing partner bringing your expertise to the table, an endorsing organization lending your credibility to the declaration, or a participating observer, your presence will make this event stronger. 

We would be honored to explore how you can help build a system worthy of Nepal’s ambition.

There are many ways to partner in the Summit:

Content and technical partners	Co-lead or contribute expertise to one of the day’s thematic tracks and help shape the national recommendations with evidence drawn from your own work.
Outreach partners	Help reach schools, families, and practitioners beyond Kathmandu Valley, particularly in provinces where a conversation like this has never been held.
Academic and research partners	Contribute data, case studies, or research capacity that strengthens the evidence base this Summit will publish.
Accessibility partners	Support sign language interpretation, sensory-friendly provisions, or accessible materials, so the summit is genuinely open to everyone it is meant to serve.
Media partners	Help carry what happens in the room to the country beyond it, before the summit and after.
Partners of the working group	Commit to carrying the national recommendations forward long after 19 September, as part of the standing body this summit will establish.

Our team is ready to discuss opportunities to support this historic effort, whether through financial contributions, in-kind support, or technical partnership. By being part of this Summit, you are investing in a more inclusive future for Nepal.

Summit timeline

Summit date	19 September 2026
Summit report published and disseminated nationally	15 October 2026
Recommendations carried to the Transformative Inclusive Education Conference 2026	2-3 December 2026

Autism Support Survey – 2026

For the purposes of Nepal Autism Summit, IEN is also conducting the Autism Support Survey 2026 to understand the current status of autism support and inclusive practices across schools and organizations in Nepal. The survey is targeted at schools, educational institutions, organizations, and professionals working with or supporting autistic children. It aims to gather information on existing practices, available resources, challenges, and support needs, helping identify key gaps and priorities for strengthening autism-inclusive education and support systems.

The data collected through this survey will be compiled and presented at the First Nepal Autism Summit 2026, providing stakeholders with an evidence-based overview of the current landscape and informing discussions on future planning, capacity building, policy development, and system-level interventions.

Survey link:
https://forms.gle/SxNRXJwk2ZHxvvvK6

Organizers

Inclusive Education  Nepal	Samanata School	Birgunj Institute for  Autism
Kathmandu University School of Education	Autism Care Nepal Society	Aakar Foundation
Association of Pre-School Educators	BalBatika Montessori	Tate Tate Nepal
Kinder Bell School

Contacts

Summit Office address: 
Inclusive Education Nepal, Gahanapokhari, Kathmandu, Nepal. Phone: +977 14500063

Conference focal: Ms. Shraddha Thapaliya (9749404332). Email: nepalautismsummit@gmail.com

Institutional partnership inquiries: Mr. Ram Tiwari (9851084426). Email: ram@inclusiveeducationnepal.org