De Lima seeks more support to persons with autism

Detained Senator Leila de Lima has filed a bill seeking to provide educational and medical support to persons with autism and special needs.

Senate Bill (SB) No. 1433 seeks "to establish a national road-map in addressing autism and providing educational and financial support to children and adults with special needs and their families."

Also, the proposed bill provides for the establishment of the Autism Council of the Philippines that will help raise public awareness on autism as a national health issue.

The senator said that there is a lack of educational and financial support to people with autism in the country.

“Autism is a developmental disability that has yet to be fully known and understood in the Philippines. And because of the lack of educational and financial support, it is only the upper and middle class families who can afford to send their autistic children to special schools,” De Lima said.

Citing data from the Autism Society of the Philippines, she said that "one out of every 500 Filipinos suffer from autism – or approximately 200,000 Filipinos out of a 100 million of the country’s total population."

Thorough and complete epidemiological surveys on the state of autism in the Philippines need to be conducted, De Lima said. As this will provide a "better understanding and treatment of autism as a national health issue."

The Senator also noted that the shortage of trained and highly-skilled teachers and health providers should also be addressed.

Moreover, SB 1433 seeks for a mandatory PhilHealth coverage for persons with autism. There will be also a protection against discrimination to children and adults with autism.

De Lima is being detained over allegations linking her to illegal drugs trade inside the national penitentiary when she was the Justice secretary. —Marly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News