The meeting was attended by representatives of autism organisations, representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Social Affairs. Education and Labour, the State Ministry of Social Welfare, the Offices of the Commissioners for Administration and Protection of Children's Rights, as well as representatives of PDOED and OELMEK.
During the discussion, problems arising from the complexity of procedures, discrimination in the payment of allowances and inadequate benefits on the part of the state for the support of people with autism, both in childhood, but especially after the age of 21, when attendance at special schools is completed, were highlighted.
In particular, the representative of the Office of the Commissioner for Children's Rights said that she published a report from 2018, which argues that benefits should not be granted on the basis of severe or mild disability and stressed that with this distinction, people with autism are often deprived of benefits. The meeting discussed the need for legislation to remove this discrimination.
Representatives of organisations and associations for people with autism also highlighted as serious problems the lack of provision for the lives of people with autism after the age of 21, as well as for their integration into society and the use of their talents and skills.
Parents of children with autism said that some positive steps that are being taken are being made very slowly. Positive steps are considered to be the establishment of homes to accommodate people with autism, as well as the Early Intervention Centre, to follow them from the age of 2.
It was stressed, however, that decentralisation of the Centre's services is needed, as it is impractical for a parent to leave his/her entire family to visit Nicosia regularly for the needs of a child. It was pointed out that parents are physically and mentally overwhelmed by the effort to support children with autism, and often cannot work because of the time they have to devote to their care.
Concluding on the view that a specialised approach to issues concerning people with autism is needed, the Committee decided to proceed to a meeting with the Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare in order to consider suggestions and possible solutions to the problems identified, as well as the proposal for holistic planning and supervision within the framework of a National Autism Strategy.
The President of the Committee, AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou, said that those responsible were blaming each other, as people with autism and their families are forced to turn to many different departments and services to ensure support. "This is why a national strategy is needed, defining a competent body to coordinate and solve the various problems, but also to evaluate and supervise the various programmes implemented," he explained, noting that the committee requested a meeting with the Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare in order to consider suggestions and possible solutions to the problems identified.
He stressed that discrimination at the level of benefits is unacceptable, as is the cutting off of rights on the grounds that they are provided i The President of the PDOED, Myria Vassiliou, said that the teachers make sure that they inform themselves with their own initiatives and provide their own materials to raise awareness among the school community, and stressed the need to reduce the number of students in classes with children with autism.
The President of OELMEK, Kostas Hadjisavas, said that teachers, who have been charged with many responsibilities in addition to their educational work in recent years, need help in handling classes with children who need special attention.
DISY MP Rita Theodorou Superman, in statements after the committee meeting, said that finances are a big problem for people with autism and explained that "allowances are not enough to follow the programmes that each child needs for his or her own development and well-being". She added that it is very important to have qualified staff to support people with autism, both in the shelter homes created by the Department of Social Integration and in the school units, where escorts are employed for these children.
Speaking at the Committee meeting, DISY MP Fotini Tsiridou said that "it is worrying that we do not have a clear number of people with autism in the country."
Speaking at the Committee meeting, DISY MP Fotini Tsiridou said that "it is worrying that we do not have a clear number of people with autism in the country. She welcomed the National Action Plan, the establishment of new centres and the funds that have been found, but stressed that "it would be good for the issue of autism to do something specialised, with coordination of all relevant departments". He stressed that with proper support, people with autism can integrate into society and work.
The chairman of the Education Committee and DIKO MP Pavlos Mylonas participated in the debate as a guest, saying that "schools are not able to cope even at a tolerable level with the needs of children with autism". He said that neither teachers are adequately trained, nor the number of children per classroom allows for proper handling, nor can unskilled school chaperones provide assistance, nor has a culture of acceptance been sufficiently cultivated within the school community.
The MP of the Movement of Ecologists, Alexandra Attalidou, noted that it is necessary to create statistical records of the number of people with autism in Cyprus, the degree of manifestation of the disorder in each person and the needs they present, in order to establish a comprehensive policy. He referred to the need for allowances for families where parents cannot work because they care for children with autism.
In a statement, DPA MP Alekos Tryfonides welcomed the proposal to draw up a national strategy to address the needs of children with autism, and said that he considers it unacceptable to perpetuate these problems and discuss them again and again. Solutions must be provided immediately. It is, he said, the right of children with autism to enjoy their human rights on an equal basis with all individuals in society. To have a proper education and a smooth integration into society.
Source: CNA
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