THE AUTISM Society Philippines (ASP) is calling on the government to build more facilities and extend therapeutic and medical assistance for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
More than awareness, Jane Gonzales, a board trustee and cluster head of ASP-Davao, said individuals with ASD have special needs that require high therapy costs.
“Hopefull, there are more centers that offer affordable education for them. We need more occupational therapists (and) speech therapists who can render service for our children at a very minimal, affordable cost,” Gonzales said.
She added that children with ASD, on average, have to undergo at least five therapy sessions weekly.
“We have minimal developmental pediatricians, and it’s rare to get an appointment yearly, and very expensive. So, now, even if the assessment can be covered by PhilHealth or subsidized by the government,” she stressed.
Early detection and assessment for children with ASD is crucial at a young age as it affects three aspects: communication, social adaptation and social interaction.
Those with ASD have difficulty socially connecting with other children, and they are at risk considering they could not distinguish between safety and danger.
“As of now, there’s no specific genes that pinpoint to autism and no specific cause. It could be environmental, genetic, or other causes. So, early diagnosis is very important,” Gonzales stressed.
While she recognizes the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children offers free services to more than 1,000 enrollees, she said it’s not sufficient considering the demand.
Gonzales said the center accepts children with special needs aged 1-6 years old, so there should be continuing services for them.
“Autism is a lifelong disability, so the services for them should also be lifelong,” she stressed.
