The Special Committee on Autism met today for the first time since its establishment last December under the chairmanship of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Its purpose is to provide interdisciplinary recommendations for the substantial improvement of our lifelong support of our fellow citizens in the autistic spectrum.

Government sources say the committee’s first priorities, such as the processing and finalization of the digital driver for autism, were discussed, which will provide practical advice, especially to parents, for appropriate actions after a child is diagnosed.

THE Prime Minister and the Minister of State Akis Skrtsos They discussed with the Commission ways of providing support at all stages of life. Exchange of views on developing a roadmap with specific policies for every age based on optimal international practices to ensure that people with autism are equal members of society, have professional rehabilitation opportunities and will not experience discrimination .

In terms of education, it was noted that most children diagnosed with autism can fully attend formal education in schools and emphasized the need to draw up more teachers and teachers so that children in the spectrum would receive appropriate parallel support. The importance of further strengthening special education was also highlighted.

For the stage of adult life, it was emphasized that a prerequisite for the inclusion and equal participation in society is high quality vocational training, and it was noted that there are very good programs in Greece to acquire professional skills.

In this context, it was discussed the possibility to establish a formal certification for young people who are completing training programs. Methods have also been examined for better connection to the labor market, either through DBA programs or with the help of specialized consultants who take on the role of “driver” in the first steps of professional life.

The importance of the rapid diagnosis was also highlighted and the possibility of establishing a horizontal standardized examination at an early age was examined to identify children who are highly likely to develop symptoms later.

“Thanks for your presence and for your participation in this committee we have created. I always had very strong memories of this meeting we had made a year ago and something“The prime minister said in his first conversations at the start of the meeting.

“It was very revealing to me and an opportunity to become much more familiar with the issues related to autism and the great challenges they face and the children and families themselves, and apparently the lack of public policies, coordinated, to deal with this problem“, He continued.

Mr Mitsotakis noted that the government has dealt with a lot of disability issues and having substantially transferred the jurisdiction to the level of the government’s presidency, the opportunity is given to more effectively coordinate complex horizontal committees.

He pointed out that the purpose of this committee is to substantially indicate a package of politicians from experts and parents.

“We expect your suggestions. Akis Skertsos is absolutely descended in this endeavor and, as I think we have managed to take steps in other aspects of our social policies, I believe that we will be able to do the same about the issues related to autism. And I know that in the mines, in general, of developments and a timeliness that is sometimes shaped by us, I know very well that living with such a challenge everyday is extremely difficult and complex.

And I always express my admiration to all those who devote their lives – whether, I would say, obligation as parents or by choice – to support our children and fellow citizens who have to deal with the issue of autism, that we are here for to listen and then to implement and follow policies that you will indicate us“, He stressed.

The prime minister then spoke to State Minister Akis Skrtso, who referred to some first interventions.

Mr. Skertsos said: ‘Thank you very much, Mr President. Good morning to everyone. I would like, before I say a few words, to refer to the committee namely, because we really have a “dream team”, Mr President. And I think this is acceptable to all those who deal with disability issues and especially autism issues.

We do not have with us the President, Mr. Karadanos, unfortunately, who is recovering from an incident of a hospital that he had and hope to be well with us soon. With extensive experience, renowned pediatric psychiatrist-psychiatrist. Ms. Katerina Papanikolaou, Pediatric Psychiatrist, Mr. Manos Tsalamanios, Pediatric Psychiatrist, Mr. Yiannis Vogindroukas, Magazine, Mrs Nektaria Sifakis, Occupational Therapist, Mrs. , Mrs. Antigoni Martika, Psychologist, Mrs. Katigo Hadjipatera – Giannouli, psychologist, and two parents, Mrs Marina Moschovo and Mr. Elias Skotiniotis.

Thank you very much for your presence and for your contribution to this initiative we have taken.

The Prime Minister’s plan and his vision concerns and seeks to achieve a Greece with everyone for everyone, where no one is left over and no one is invisible. And in the case of autism we are dealing with an invisible disability. It is not as obvious as other forms of disability.

For us, therefore, the key and first priority is to highlight that children, people, families living with the problem of autism, who are experiencing disability or disease in autism spectrum, are visible, are in our own priorities.

With your help, we want to better understand the problems they face in their daily lives, their privacy, public life, school, work, health, transport, everywhere, people with autism and their families and design Together with policies that will help people in the autism spectrum feel, feel that they are members of society with the same rights that all other citizens have.

We have made an agenda of the issues of the recording we have made and from the discussions you had with the prime minister, but also with us, with the executives of the disability mechanism. The issues are indicative. We believe that they concern people, families, experts who deal with autism issues.

Our goal and the Commission is to visiblely improve the life and daily lives of our fellow citizens in the spectrum of autism by interventions in formal and special education, in the counseling they receive from experts, in the possibilities of integrating them into the labor market, In their forensic representation“