Karnali’s autistic children left in the lurch as budget crunch cripples support services

There are around 300,000 autistic children in Nepal who face significant educational challenges.

Poornakala Dhakal, a resident of ward 9 of Lekbesi Municipality in Surkhet, spends her entire day caring for her seven-year-old daughter Prem Kumari, who has autism and poor vision. Prem Kumari often talks to herself and wanders wherever she wishes.