Kazaliou Baldé’s parents started worrying about him when he was a small child because he avoided eye contact and had difficulty communicating.
His family, who live in the village of Fria in Guinea, at first turned to a traditional healer who suggested protective amulets.
But when he dragged himself along the ground instead of walking, they decided to take him to a hospital in the capital, Conakry.
There he was diagnosed with autism, something the family had not heard of before.
With the disorder widely misunderstood in Guinea, neighbours were rude to him with some even suggesting that his parents take him to the bush and leave him there.
