Every child deserves an equal start in life. Yet a recent article in The Jerusalem Post and a new report by the Taub Center highlight a troubling trend: children in Israel’s ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities are often diagnosed with autism later than the national average.
This is not merely a statistic about diagnosis; it represents the loss of precious years when early intervention can impact a child’s future.
Sawsan’s story illustrates both the challenges and the hope that early intervention can bring. An Arab mother from Sakhnin, Sawsan, sought help from a speech therapist because of a language delay she noticed in her now two-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
The therapist recommended an evaluation by a developmental pediatrician, but the appointment was scheduled months later. Rather than wait passively, Sawsan continued speech therapy while preparing herself emotionally and learning about autism.
When the diagnosis finally came, she focused on finding the right program for her daughter, in this case, Israel Elwyn’s early intervention center in Karmiel, despite concerns and opinions from people around her.
Children in a first-grade classroom, 2010 (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
“I decided not to think about what others might say,” she explained. “My priority was to find the best place for my daughter.”
Early diagnosis is widely recognized as one of the most important factors in helping children with autism develop crucial skills. When diagnosis is delayed, access to early intervention services is delayed as well, and developmental gaps may widen over time.
Importance of early intervention
From our experience at Israel Elwyn – a non-profit organization serving more than 5,600 children and adults with disabilities across Israel – early intervention can change the course of a child’s life.
When children receive the right support during their earliest years, they develop communication, learning, and functional skills that significantly increase their chances of entering the workforce and living more independently within their communities.
Today, Sawsan says the change has been remarkable. Her daughter now receives therapy within one integrated setting and follows a structured daily routine.
The crying that once stemmed from frustration has significantly decreased, as she has learned new ways to communicate even without spoken language. She began playing with toys in new ways, improved her eating habits, and started interacting more with the people around her.
Just as importantly, the family itself feels stronger. Seeing their daughter’s progress has given them renewed optimism for her future.
Sawsan’s story reflects a broader reality. Delayed diagnosis does not stem from a lack of willingness among families to seek help. On the contrary, parents from all communities want the best for their children and are eager to access professional support. The challenges often lie elsewhere: in awareness, accessibility of services, and the diagnostic process itself.
One major barrier is the long waiting period for evaluations at child development clinics. For many families, especially those who cannot afford private assessments costing thousands of shekels, waiting months for an appointment delays the beginning of essential treatment.
Regional gaps in the availability and accessibility of developmental services can also contribute to diagnostic disparities.
Geographic accessibility plays a role as well. In Jerusalem, a city of nearly one million residents, child development centers are not always located near the communities that need them most.
In some neighborhoods, particularly in East Jerusalem, limited public transportation makes it difficult for parents to reach specialized services.
At the same time, family structures are changing. Studies show that young families in both the ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities increasingly live independently, sometimes far from their immediate families.
Grandparents or relatives often play an important role in identifying developmental concerns and encouraging parents to seek professional advice. As this intergenerational support becomes less accessible, many parents are left navigating uncertainty on their own.
Early identification usually begins within the community, at child health clinics (Tipat Halav), pediatricians’ offices, and child development centers. Research shows that early signs of autism can often be identified during a child’s first year of life.
Increasing awareness and improving screening tools among community professionals could significantly shorten the path to diagnosis and intervention.
Encouragingly, experience on the ground shows that when services are accessible and culturally sensitive, families are responsive. Programs that incorporate professionals from within the community, or experts who speak the community’s language and understand its cultural context, often build stronger trust and result in greater engagement.
Investing in early childhood services is not only socially responsible; it is also economically sound.
Early intervention can reduce the need for more intensive and costly services later in life while enabling more individuals with autism to participate meaningfully in education, employment, and community life.
At Israel Elwyn, we see this principle reflected in our daily work with people with disabilities from across Israeli society. Our services span the life cycle: from early intervention centers for toddlers to transitional programs for youth and young adults, supported employment, and services for seniors.
Closing the diagnostic gap requires a multi-layered approach: strengthening early identification within community health services, improving access to diagnostic and therapeutic services, and expanding culturally adapted programs and outreach.
Ultimately, early diagnosis is not only about identifying autism sooner. It is about ensuring that every child, in every community in Israel, has an equal start and the opportunity to grow, learn, work, and participate fully in the life of their community.
The writer is assistant CEO for international relations at Israel Elwyn, an organization providing services for people with disabilities across all communities in Israel.