How to live with autism in Venezuela 03.06.2026

Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Venezuela presents monumental challenges due to a precarious healthcare system and an uninformed society, forcing individuals like Vanessa Pérez Caruso and Dorian Chirinos to hide their condition to avoid rejection and prejudice. Access to diagnoses and treatments is extremely costly in the private sector (between $20 and $50 per psychological consultation, over $30 for psychiatry), while public services, although free, suffer from spaced-out appointments and resource scarcity. This forces many to reduce therapies or medication. The school system often reproduces exclusion and bullying, with poorly trained teachers and resistance to curricular adaptations, despite the law promoting inclusive education. The job market also demands conformity to "neurotypical" standards, perceiving neurodivergence as inefficiency, leading many to hide their diagnosis to keep their jobs. The lack of efficient policies and budgets for specialized centers exacerbates the helplessness, preventing access to essential medications and therapies.

















