For example, certain symptoms associated with autism, such as delayed language development and problems handling daily life tasks, are more severe in African American individuals with autism than in Caucasians. Such differences make it important to understand the range of underlying genes that add to the disorder in other ethnic groups.
http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/african-americans-and-autism.html
the evidence is even starker and bears repeating.
1) Autism has always been rare in Africa, with low rates that have surprised researchers.
2) Most autism in Africa occurred in elite families with access to Western health services.
3) Among Africans who migrate to Western countries, autism rates are remarkably high. These immigrants face unusual risks of over vaccination.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/11/out-of-africa-a.html
In Africa, a lack of awareness and resources prevents many children with autism from getting help. They are stigmatized by their families and communities.
Brigitte Kobenan is the mother of an autistic child. During her reign as Miss Ivory Coast and Miss Congeniality World in recent years, she decided to make autism a central part of her platform, creating the Autism Community of Africa. She recently came to the Ivorian embassy in Washington, D.C. to talk about her own son. She says he often sat in a corner at home, lost in his own world.
"He was spinning objects, he would just look at a fan spinning and he would go around and around, he would line up toys, you know, instead of playing with them," Kobenan explained.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Prominent-African-Women-Call-Attention-to-Autism-In-Africa-80700957.html