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Maangaar Media

Every video from our YouTube channel, watchable right here, alongside the Maangaar documentary and national press coverage. We add new videos as they are published.

9 videos and counting

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Maangaar
A film by Abubakar Abdikadir about autism in the Somali community.

Featured film · 12:40

Maangaar: The Documentary

How can a word change an entire community?

This mini-documentary follows a group of Somali advocates who came together to create a single, transformative word, one that reshaped the conversation around autism and brought hope, dignity and understanding to countless families. It is a celebration of language, resilience and the power of community-led change.

Maangaar was created by Abubakar Abdikadir at Haybad Films and has screened as part of the Saint Paul Art Crawl and through SPNN’s Doc U program. Maangaar Voices was honored to be featured in the film, helping tell the story of the Maangaar Movement alongside the voices and perspectives of many community leaders.

This short film is a segment of a larger documentary now in development. The full-length version will be released at a later date and entered into film festivals.

Watch, share, and be inspired.

Researchers find alarming rise in autism diagnoses among Somali American children
PBS NewsHour

In the news

PBS NewsHour

Researchers find alarming rise in autism diagnoses among Somali American children

PBS NewsHour’s nationally aired segment featuring the Maangaar Voices team. Aired October 3, 2024.

Our YouTube channel

Maangaar Voices on YouTube

Recordings from our summits, civic milestones and community conversations, in Somali and English. Press play to watch here, or open any video on YouTube.

The 2024 Maangaar Summit

Our 2024 Summit, the largest autism-centered gathering in the East African community, recorded in full, with the sibling panel on its own.

  • [SOM + ENG] Maangaar 2024 Summit – Part I

    [SOM + ENG] Maangaar 2024 Summit – Part I

    July 14, 2025

    Part I of the 2024 Maangaar Summit captures the opening moments of the largest autism-centered gathering in the East African community. Hosted by Maangaar Voices and beautifully documented by Somali TV of Minnesota, this portion includes powerful welcomes, grounding reflections, and community-rooted storytelling. From cultural connection to collective advocacy, this summit set the stage for deep dialogue, healing, and transformative action across generations.

    Open on YouTube →
  • [SOM + ENG] Maangaar 2024 Summit – Part II

    [SOM + ENG] Maangaar 2024 Summit – Part II

    July 14, 2025

    Part II of the 2024 Maangaar Summit continues the momentum with powerful panels, poetry, and deeply moving testimonies from Maangaar parents, providers, and siblings. Captured by Somali TV of Minnesota, this segment highlights the lived experiences shaping a new kind of autism advocacy—one that is rooted in culture, dignity, and collective strength. This isn’t just a conference—it’s a movement.

    Open on YouTube →
  • [ENG] Unheard But Not Unseen: Sibling Stories from the 2024 Maangaar Summit

    [ENG] Unheard But Not Unseen: Sibling Stories from the 2024 Maangaar Summit

    July 14, 2025

    At the 2024 Maangaar Summit, this unforgettable panel uplifted the voices of siblings of autistic children—often referred to as “glass siblings.” Hosted by Maangaar Voices, the conversation explored the weight of love, responsibility, and invisibility that siblings carry in silence. This emotional and healing dialogue brought many to tears, shedding light on the unspoken realities of those who grow up in caregiving roles while navigating their own identities. Their stories are a vital part of the autism advocacy movement—because when we center siblings, we strengthen the whole family.

    Open on YouTube →

The Maangaar water safety resolution

In April 2024 the Minneapolis City Council accepted, and the Mayor signed, the resolution on culturally responsive water safety and drowning prevention for autistic children.

  • [SOM + ENG] Councilman Jamal Osman Introduces Water Safety Resolution for Autistic Children

    [SOM + ENG] Councilman Jamal Osman Introduces Water Safety Resolution for Autistic Children

    July 14, 2025

    On April 17, 2024, Council Member Jamal Osman introduced and the Minneapolis City Council officially accepted the resolution “Enhancing Culturally Responsive Water Safety and Drowning Prevention for Autistic Children.” This moment was deeply personal. Councilman Osman shared the heartbreaking loss of his young nephew to drowning just one year earlier, standing in solidarity with families who have experienced similar pain. The resolution was co-developed with Maangaar Voices and the Minneapolis Department of Public Health to address the urgent need for culturally grounded safety efforts. It h

    Open on YouTube →
  • [ENGLISH] Mayor of Minneapolis Signs Maangaar Water Safety Resolution

    [ENGLISH] Mayor of Minneapolis Signs Maangaar Water Safety Resolution

    July 14, 2025

    On April 22, 2024, Mayor Jacob Frey officially signed and commemorated the Enhancing Culturally Responsive Water Safety and Drowning Prevention for Autistic Children resolution, developed in partnership with Maangaar Voices, Council Member Jamal Osman, and the Minneapolis Department of Public Health. This historic resolution honors the lives of Waeys Ali Mohamed and Mohamed Mohamed, two Somali autistic boys lost to preventable drowning. It calls for inclusive swim programs, housing protections, and culturally grounded safety efforts across immigrant and disability communities. The event was

    Open on YouTube →

Interviews and community