Spark a Spectrum 2026 · World Autism Awareness Day
On April 2, 2026, thousands of people across thirty-two countries showed up for autistic children and their families. This page is for them. Every coordinator, every volunteer, every artist, every host center. Each name on this page received a Certificate of Recognition from ABA World.
A living document. New names are added as reports continue to arrive.
Featured Voices
From Hanoi to Houston to Lagos, these contributors anchored Spark a Spectrum 2026. Their fuller stories appear in our Fifteen Voices feature.
Musician & Autistic Artist · Vietnam
Nguyễn Tiến Hoàng opened the Spark a Spectrum 2026 global broadcast at 9:00 PM Vietnam time with a live melodica performance, a piece he learned in just one day. His music welcomed the world into twenty-four hours of celebration, awareness, and autistic leadership.
Global Broadcast Host · Houston, Texas
Held the global broadcast together, connecting Hanoi, Kuwait City, Lagos, Jos, and dozens of cities into a single conversation about autism, dignity, and possibility. Enrolled Agent (IRS) and CPA candidate; holds a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas. His career spans audit work at Blazek and Vetterling, four years teaching accounting at Houston Community College, and over a decade in operational and CFO-function roles.
Self-Advocate · Pharmacy Student · Kuwait
On April 2, Eilan stepped onto the world stage as a self-advocate who knows her own mind. Her message began: I am not here to just speak. I am here to be heard and understood. Two months from completing her degree in pharmacy, co-coordinator of Spark a Spectrum Kuwait, creator of the Kuwait event Instagram page.
Linguist · Disability Advocate · Kuwait
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Translation; trilingual in Arabic, English, and French. Two papers awaiting publication on linguistics, diglossic communities, and neurodivergence. Volunteered at the Kuwait Center for Autism. Pursuing a master's and PhD to advance research bridging linguistics, neurodiversity, and inclusivity.
Two Guinness World Records · Nigeria
Sixteen-year-old non-verbal autistic artist, cyclist, and advocate. Painting since age four. Holds two Guinness World Records, the second certified during the Ride for Autism campaign, recognising him as the youngest person to cycle 100 miles. Set off from Enugu and arrived in Lagos on April 2, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu received him at Lagos House, Marina.
Founding Artist · Magic King Creations · Nigeria
Created the Spark a Spectrum logo, the image that travelled to thirty-two countries and lit up eighty-four centers. Founder of Magic King Creations, a studio of unique handmade art. Building toward independence with a clear vision for opening an art gallery in Anambra state and creating opportunities for others.
Craft Artist & Musician · Nigeria
Twenty years old. Transforms simple materials, including plastic bags and other recycled items, into detailed cars, animals, and human figures. Drawn to the piano. Some people lead by doing, others by being. Shaun is both. His presence in the Spark a Spectrum story is a reminder that there are talented autistic young people whose abilities deserve recognition, structure, and the chance to grow.
Africa and Asia Regional Lead
Coordinated Spark a Spectrum 2026 across Senegal, Mali, Madagascar, and beyond. Owns multiple autism centers and has built training pipelines for early screening across the region.
Research Co-Lead · University of Calabar
Neurologist and Spark a Spectrum coordinator for Cross River State. Welcomed 132 attendees and 42 children for screening at Calabar.
Leadership Team
The team that coordinated Spark a Spectrum 2026 across thirty-two countries.
Dr. Dorothea Lerman
Chair, Behavior Analysis Program; Director, CADD UHCL
Loukia Tsami, MA, BCBA, LBA
Founder, ABA World
Faby Diallo, BCBA
Africa and Asia Regional Lead
Sino (Agbo Emmanuel)
Nigeria Coordination Lead
Munachi
Nigeria Coordination Assistant
Happiness Jonas Sarki
Scheduling Coordinator
Sekinah
ABA World Administrator
Dr. Chimaeze Torty
Research Co-Lead, University of Calabar
Annie Jones
Behavior Analysis Graduate Student, Vocational Clinic
Diana Mendoza Lara
Behavior Analysis Graduate Student, Vocational Clinic
University of Houston-Clear Lake
On April 2, the UHCL campus became a living map of autistic leadership. The team below built and ran Spark a Spectrum from the inside, with autistic adults leading, coordinating, hosting, and creating. Their fuller stories are featured in our Fifteen Voices article.
Members of the UHCL Vocational Clinic, a working community where autistic adults build real-world skills in real-world roles. Several are actively seeking employment.
Welcome Desk and Admin Support
Welcomed people as they walked through the UHCL doors on April 2. Part of the UHCL Vocational Clinic for over a year, with deep competence across cleaning, decorating, organising, and keeping spaces ready. Brings attention to detail, reliability, and genuine care to everything she does.
Currently seeking full-time employment. Any workplace would be lucky to have her.
Admin Support and Internal Communication
Contributed to the project with public relations tasks, internal communication, and administrative work in the months leading up to April 2. His work ethic and consideration for others shaped the office environment.
Ready for employment. Any employer would be fortunate to have him.
Tech Support · Graphics and Design
Handled tech support for Spark a Spectrum and was responsible for much of the graphics and flyer design work that gave the event its visual identity.
Event Contributor · Vocational Clinic Team
Brought administrative skills, organization, team support, and presence to Spark a Spectrum. His history with CADD UHCL is part of a larger story about what work and community can look like when they are built with autistic people, not just for them.
Currently seeking full-time employment in retail.
Event Contributor · BA Computer Science
Holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science. Brought administrative skills, organization, and a steady presence to everything he contributed.
Currently seeking employment in data entry, remote or in person.
Game Designer · 3D Animator · UHCL Class of 2025
Bachelor of Arts in Serious Games and Simulations from UHCL, 3.5 GPA. Builds worlds in Unity, Unreal, Godot, Blender, and Maya. Tells stories through gameplay, 3D animation, motion graphics, and virtual reality.
High School Student · Art Coordinator
Still in high school. That did not stop her from coordinating art at a global event. Helped shape what the event looked like and what it felt like, the visual language and the energy on the floor.
High School Student · Dance Coordinator
Coordinated the dance competition with quiet confidence and real commitment. Helped lead the creative side of the event alongside Abigail and the contributing students from Clear Lake High School.
Behavior Analysis graduate students and volunteers who supported the Vocational Clinic and Spark a Spectrum throughout the year.
Coordinating the Vocational Clinic: Annie Jones, Diana Mendoza Lara
Behavior Analysis graduate students at UHCL.
Since September 2025, students from Clear Lake High School have joined UHCL every Tuesday through the Helping Hands vocational program. Seven special education students and approximately fifteen general education students from the Teacher Education and Training program contributed throughout the year and on event day.
Mrs. Meghana Yelluru
Special Education Teacher · Alternative Academic Classroom
Mrs. Sarah Pu
Paraprofessional · Special Education Class
Mrs. Kailey Macik
Teacher Education and Training (T.E.T.)
Three local institutional partners joined at UHCL on April 2, each bringing service to autistic adults, young people, and their families.
Staffed a booth offering information and resources on transition-age medical care, supporting autistic young adults and their families through the stretch between paediatric and adult healthcare.
Brought his team to autistic adults with hands-on care: oral health consultations, free brushing-technique demonstrations, personalised advice, and gifts. Supported by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities.
Hosted activities and gifts for children, making sure the youngest visitors had a space that was theirs. Year-round work building inclusive, hands-on learning experiences for children across the Greater Houston region.
Student workers: Yocheved Martinez, Natalie Ramirez, Trevor Engler, Alexis Johnson
Host Centres · Nigeria
Each coordinator and center named below receives a Certificate of Community Leadership for hosting Spark a Spectrum 2026 in their community. Volunteer counts represent unique named contributors at each center.
Coordinator: Amarachi Treasure Nwankwo
110 attended · 20 children screened
Coordinator: Adams Samuel Uchepo
45 attended · 10 children screened
Coordinator: Anthony Emmanuel
30 attended · 10 children screened
Coordinator: Engr. Kingsley Okon Ita
255 attended · 55 children screened
Coordinator: Jonas Happiness Sarki
230+ attended · 57 children screened
Coordinator: Usman Munauwara Aminu
2 attended · 2 children screened
Volunteer list to follow.
Coordinator: Dr. Chimaeze Torty
132 attended · 42 children screened
Coordinator: God's Choice Osagie
65 attended · 8 children screened
Coordinator: Babalola Ayodeji Kayode / Ogunyemi Deborah Eunice
300+ attended · 26 children screened
Coordinator: Salami Odunitan Rasak
350 attended · 45 children screened
Coordinator: Uzoma Joy Chizitere
12 attended · 0 children screened
Coordinator: Usman Nasiru Isah
55 attended · 35 children screened
Coordinator: Maryam Ibrahim Maifada
100+ attended · 100 children screened
Coordinator: Safiya Musa Ibrahim
185 attended · 100 children screened
Coordinator: Asiya Iliyasu / Mubarak Idris / Hauwa
32 attended · 29 children screened
Coordinator: Abdullahi Wada Umar
99 attended · 25 children screened
Coordinator: Egbunu Odoma John
12 attended · 0 children screened
Coordinator: Adeleye Ebunoluwa
13 attended · 12 children screened
Coordinator: Fasesan Oluwaseun Elizabeth
16 attended · 7 children screened
Coordinator: Edu George
11 attended · 2 children screened
Coordinator: Christopher Ali Zarma
42 attended · 0 children screened
Coordinator: Dr. Nike Akindayo
40 attended · 15 children screened
Coordinator: Adio Jamal Abioye
30 attended · 10 children screened
Coordinator: Deborah Olayemi Oyebode
13 attended · 2 children screened
Coordinator: Mercy Emmanuel-Worgu
125 attended · 19 children screened
Volunteer list to follow.
Coordinator: Abdulhakeem Abdulsalam
Joined virtually attended · 0 children screened
Volunteer list to follow.
Coordinator: Suleiman Mohammed Amfani
20 attended · 14 children screened
Host Centres · International
Coordinators and centers outside Nigeria who brought Spark a Spectrum 2026 to their communities.
Coordinator: Kone Safiatou
Community celebration, parent consultations
Coordinator: AKHO MAFFEHI Arthur Jean de Dieu
Community celebration
Coordinator: M'BRA Yannick
Field practice and consultations
Coordinator: Dr. Eirini Anagnostou
School visits and small group activities. Open community event cancelled due to rain.
Coordinator: Eilan Aldhafeeri
Awareness session; inclusion focus
Coordinator: Faby Diallo (Africa/Asia Regional Lead)
Screening
Coordinator: Faby Diallo (Africa/Asia Regional Lead)
Screening and celebration
Coordinator: Larissa Umutoni
Event cancelled due to lack of funds. Team identified; ready to participate when funding is secured.
Coordinator: Faby Diallo (Africa/Asia Regional Lead)
Screening and community celebration
Coordinator: Hoang Tien Nguyen (Nguyễn Tiến Hoàng)
Opened the Spark a Spectrum 2026 global broadcast at 9:00 PM Vietnam time with a live melodica performance, learned in just one day.
Coordinator: Hildah Nkonde
Event cancelled due to lack of funding. Venue secured; volunteers mobilized.
Honoured Even Where the Day Could Not Hold
These coordinators showed up to lead in places where funding, infrastructure, or circumstance prevented an event from being held. Their commitment is recorded here. We will return to these states in 2027 with the resources they deserved this year.
Coordinator: Agbo Emmanuel Ikechukwu
Event cancelled due to lack of funds
Coordinator: Pharm. Mallam Abba Kunduli
No center established
Coordinator: Okafor Ogechukwu Marycynthia
10 trained volunteers ready for future events
Coordinator: Ibrahim Yunusa Tanko
Event did not take place
Coordinator: Usman Abdullahi
No event held
Coordinator: Mustapha Lawal
No funding, no center, no volunteers secured
Coordinator: Sulton Abdullahi
Event did not take place
Coordinator: Odunyemi Iromidayo Olayeye
No center in Ondo State
Coordinator: Mukhtar Fathiyah Tawakaltu
Looking forward to participating fully next year
Art Competition
Students from participating schools whose creative voices contributed to the Spark a Spectrum 2026 Art Competition. Each student receives a Certificate of Participation. This list will continue to grow as more schools submit their participants.
Jigawa, Nigeria
Jigawa, Nigeria
Voices from the Field
Coordinators describing the moments they will not forget.
"Seeing the relief and hope in the eyes of parents after their children were screened. For many, it was the first time they truly understood what their child might be experiencing, and that support is possible."
"One moment I will never forget was identifying the early signs of autism in a child who had been misunderstood for years."
"The showcase of talent by autistic children, a 7-year-old mathematician and a 13-year-old puzzle expert. The turnout of families for screening, and the fact that most stayed till the end."
"A parent initially seemed worried and unsure, but after the screening and consultation, they became calm and hopeful. That transformation, from confusion to understanding, really stayed with me."
"How grateful the parents of the special learners were, and the hope that sparked from their eyes after the consultation sessions. The devoted team of volunteers, screeners and consultants who did the tasks with joy."
"Heartfelt talks from veteran parents to newly diagnosed families created moments of acceptance and understanding. Every child felt seen, every parent felt honoured."
"When parents had to come out and dance, and when our host center took responsibility for covering the entire refreshments. Joy was in every corner."
"The smile on the face of the mother of the 20-year-old after the screening and consultation. She was hopeful."
"The realization that parents are the biggest researchers."
"The sleepless interactions between the parents and volunteers about their experience living with their children, the small wins and setbacks, and the heart-to-heart conversations."
"A woman asked what she would do, as her husband divorced her because she gave birth to an autistic child. It was very touching. I became very emotional, and so was every parent present."
"The openness of parents to share what they are going through. One mother had been told to bury her autistic child alive by a husband who later abandoned the family. That she came forward at all took courage."
"A parent shared her experience of being paid less at work after missing days to care for her autistic child, while the father had abandoned them. It reminded us why this work matters."
"The most unforgettable moment was realising we had to cancel the event entirely because we ran out of money. That disappointment taught me more about planning and resource management than any successful event ever could."
"A powerful sense of unity in diversity, seeing individuals from different backgrounds come together to share, learn, and inspire one another. It was more than a gathering; it was a movement."
"Despite us not being able to hold the event due to lack of funding, seeing different people from all walks of life rise up and gather together for this noble cause was such a beautiful thing to witness."
"Time spent with the children. Les moments passés avec les enfants."
"The inclusion and joining of people from across the world. Autism awareness coming to light and spreading understanding."
"The initiative focused on two main objectives across Africa: training in early screening and mobilising communities for celebration. Both were successfully achieved."
Fifteen Languages, One Purpose
A tribute to the volunteers who stepped forward to translate autism screening tools from English into African languages. This work is not simple. It requires linguistic precision, cultural awareness, patience, and heart. People showed up, from different professions, ages, regions, and lived experiences, united by one purpose: to make autism screening accessible to African families in languages they trust and understand.
Hausa · Yoruba · Igbo · Ibibio · Kanuri · Tiv · Nupe · Igala · Idoma · Anaang · Ogoni · Kalabari · Pidgin · Arabic · Kinyarwanda
Some of our volunteers are medical doctors, pharmacists, teachers, speech therapists, public health professionals, special educators, students, researchers, and community advocates. Some are parents of autistic children. Some have worked in autism for over a decade. Others are just beginning, but all came with sincerity and commitment.
"It is my privilege to contribute to such a huge project and encourage other parents."
"This is a great opportunity to support my community through professional development and raising awareness."
"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve humanity in this uncommon way."
"I am excited to contribute both as a professional and as a parent of an autistic child."
"I will volunteer wholeheartedly."
"This work will help my community understand autism better."
"Thank you for thinking outside the box."
These translations are not just words on paper. They connect science and culture, families with early identification, and children with support.
To every volunteer who raised their hand and said, "I can help", please know that your work matters, and it will touch families you may never meet.
Thank you for serving with humility and excellence. Thank you for helping African communities honour their ancestors and preserve their history and tradition.
This page is updated as coordinator reports arrive. Forty-five additional centers are still expected to submit. If you participated in Spark a Spectrum 2026 as a coordinator, volunteer, screener, artist, sponsor, media partner, or in any other capacity, and you do not yet see your name here, please contact us. We want to honour your contribution properly.
Contact us to be added