Bringing the East African community together around disability & inclusion:

Event
date
Fri. 27th
Nov. 2026
Event
time
2:00PM –
7:00PM
1701 American
Blvd E Ste 15,
Bloomington,
MN 55425
Free
& open to
community
Scan to
registerQR code for Summit 2026 registration
Summit 2026 details & registration
  • A speaker addresses the room with a microphone while a panelist listens.
  • Panelists in conversation on stage at a past Maangaar Summit.
  • Three panelists share a laugh during a summit discussion.
  • A vendor welcomes attendees at an exhibitor table.
  • Two panelists speak with a presentation slide behind them.
  • A smiling exhibitor seated at a resource table.

Maangaar Means
Unique Mind

Inspired by Takiwātanga, the Māori term for autism meaning “in their own time and space,” the Somali term Maangaar emerged through conversations among autistic self-advocates, parents, professionals, community leaders, and allies seeking a more affirming way to talk about autism in Somali communities. Meaning “Unique Mind,” Maangaar reframes autism as adifferent way of experiencing and engaging with the world rather than something to be feared or hidden. The term reflects a collective vision of acceptance, belonging, and celebration of neurodiversity. Like Takiwātanga, Maangaar honors the value of every mind and guides our mission to build more inclusive communities.

Maangaar Voices team members standing together at the Maangaar Summit.

Programs & Services

Maangaar Voices offers culturally relevant programs to empower the immigrant disability community, with a focus on autism and related disabilities. Our initiatives provide education, support, and creative expression opportunities to foster understanding and inclusion.

  • Wellness Wednesdays Women’s Support Group

    A free weekly Zoom gathering for women in the disability community, every Wednesday 11 AM to 1 PM Central, facilitated by Dr. Abyan Bashir of Let’s Talk Healing and the Maangaar Voices team. Weekly since November 2024.

  • Swimming Lessons

    Private swim lessons created with Muslim women in mind, in partnership with FOSS Swim School in Burnsville: an entire swim school reserved on Sundays, with women-only instructors and staff. Enrolling year round.

  • Inclusive Faith Spaces

    Making the masjid home for every child: sensory-friendly Eid prayers and gatherings every Eid, Inclusive Dugsi classes with partner masjids, and Disability & Deen panels and workshops in the community.

  • Maangaar Summit

    Our annual summit brings parents, providers, professionals and community members together around disability and inclusion: keynotes, parent and sibling panels, Disability & Deen, and resource tables. The next one is Friday, November 27, 2026 in Bloomington.

  • Online Support Groups

    Our support groups on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Snapchat connect self-advocates, parents, caregivers, and providers. These spaces offer real-time discussions, shared resources, and mutual support.

  • Maangaar Workshops

    Our workshops offer parents, caregivers, providers, and self-advocates practical tools, resources, and culturally relevant insights, in person or online whenever we can. We are happy to collaborate with school districts, organizations, and businesses to provide training and consultation.

  • Maangaar Stories & Media

    Maangaar Stories showcases authentic autism experiences in the immigrant community through blogs, videos, podcasts, art, and more, including Maangaar, the documentary about the word that changed a community. Watch our videos in Maangaar Media, and follow our very active social media pages.

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

Featured film

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.

Watch on YouTubeMore in Maangaar Media →

Maangaar Voices in the News

  • KARE 11 (opens in a new tab)
  • Clackamas County (opens in a new tab)
  • University of St. Thomas (opens in a new tab)
  • CBS News Minnesota (opens in a new tab)
  • Somali TV of Minnesota (opens in a new tab)
  • TEDx (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)
  • MPR News (opens in a new tab)
  • Sahan Journal (opens in a new tab)
See all press coverage →