Advancing Autism Research & Support in Africa
ARLA is an interdisciplinary research initiative dedicated to advancing the understanding, detection, and management of autism in African contexts.
Our Focus
ARLA focuses on culturally and contextually responsive research, leveraging emerging technologies, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve access to autism diagnosis and intervention. The lab integrates neurodevelopmental research, digital health solutions, behaviour change frameworks, and caregiver-centred approaches to support autistic individuals and their families across diverse African settings.
ARLA have projects in collaboration with African Universities (University of the Witwatersrand, Carnegie Mellon University Africa (Rwanda), University of Lagos), UK universities (including partnerships with the University of Leeds, and University of Warwick), and grassroots organisations (Differently Talented Society Kenya). They have received funding from the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA), University of the Witwatersrand.
Innovative Autism Detection & Management
ARLA develops and implements culturally responsive tools, including AI-driven solutions and mobile health applications, to enhance the early detection and management of autism in African contexts.
Interdisciplinary & Community-Driven Research
The lab collaborates with experts in speech-language pathology, engineering, and pediatric neurology while actively engaging caregivers and local communities to ensure research and interventions are contextually relevant and impactful.
Capacity Building & Policy Advocacy
ARLA contributes to strengthening autism research and clinical practice in Africa by training professionals, supporting caregiver education, advocating for policies that improve access to autism services and support.
Meet Our Team
Dr Skye Adams
Skye Adams is an associate lecturer at Wits University, specializing in pediatric neurogenic communication and dysphagia. With an MSc from UCL, she focuses on improving language development and swallowing care for children with disabilities, including autism.
Her primary research interests include pediatric neurogenic communication disorders, pediatric dysphagia, and language development.
Skye leads dysphagia management programs for children with Cerebral Palsy in Johannesburg, enhancing their quality of life through evidence-based care. Her expertise in speech pathology supports our project on improving child nutrition for autistic children through digital interventions.
Dr Edith Luhanga
Edith Luhanga is an assistant research professor at CMU-Africa, formerly a lecturer at NM-AIST, Tanzania. She holds a Ph.D. in information science from Japan’s Nara Institute, an MSc in advanced computing, and a BEng (Hons) from the University of Nottingham, UK.
Luhanga’s research focuses on designing theory-based behavior change systems that consider people’s personal and socio-cultural contexts, through a human-centered approach. Her main domains of interest are health (particularly nutrition, maternal and child health, and disabilities management), financial inclusion, and privacy and security.
She was the deputy project leader for a 10-year project on capacity building through digital technologies at NM-AIST and served as Tanzania’s representative to the UNESCO intergovernmental committee on drafting recommendations on the ethics of artificial intelligence in 2021.
Fabrice Mukarage
Fabrice Mukarage is a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University Africa, pursuing an MSc in Information Technology with an interest in research. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from Ashesi University, with a focus on Software Engineering and Web Technologies.
Fabrice has a background in research and software engineering, including internships at Princeton University, where he worked alongside and under the mentorship of professional Research Software Engineers to build, develop, and optimise the Scikit-HEP/hist project, and at Microsoft in Nigeria, where he worked on a web application for COVID- six19 vaccine tracking.
Fabrice is skilled in JavaScript, ReactJS, PHP, and various web technologies, with a strong interest in user-centred design. He is currently working on managing feeding difficulties in children with Autism in South Africa as an intern.
Arshima Khan
Arshima Khan is an independent research consultant specialising in social and public health projects, including tobacco control, HIV, autism, and maternal health. She’s a registered Research Psychologist with the HPCSA and a PhD Psychology fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Arshima’s primary research interests lie at the intersection of feminist theory, critical perspectives, and public health, where she explores the socio-political dimensions of health and advocates for equity and justice in health and policy.
Arshima Khan is a registered Research Psychologist with the HPCSA and an independent consultant focused on social and public health projects, including tobacco control, HIV, autism, and maternal health. She actively advocates for equity and justice in health and policy through her work.
Christopher Cofie Kuzagbe
Christopher Cofie Kuzagbe is a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University Africa, pursuing an MSc in Information Technology with a strong interest in research. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from the African Leadership University, where he focused on Human-Centred Design, Research, and Software Engineering.
Christopher is a co-founder of two startups in East Africa and has extensive experience working as a UI/UX Engineer across various industries. As a recipient of the prestigious Mandela Centennial Scholarship Program, he has demonstrated both academic excellence and leadership.
His expertise spans UI/UX Design, Product Management, and Software & Business Architecture, with proficiency in JavaScript, ReactJS, ExpressJS, and a variety of web technologies. Christopher remains deeply passionate about Human-Centred Design, ensuring users remain at the core of his design and development processes.
Yves-Roland Douha
Yves-Roland Douha is a postdoctoral research associate at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa), specialising in human-computer interaction and digital healthcare. His research focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address critical public health challenges, particularly in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
AI for autism (early detection, assistive technologies, and personalized interventions), Deep learning and neural networks, Digital healthcare, Game-theoretic modeling, Internet-of-things (IoT) and human-centered cybersecurity.
Yves-Roland’s work explores the intersection of AI and digital tools to enhance the diagnosis, intervention, and support for individuals with autism. His research contributes to the broader field of AI-driven healthcare solutions, aiming to improve accessibility and effectiveness in public health. Through academic collaborations and public engagement, he advocates for the integration of technology in addressing global health disparities.