VENICE – “It is estimated that one in 77 children, aged 7 to 9 years, have an autism spectrum disorder with a higher prevalence in boys. It is a pathology that requires a path of taking charge that considers not only the person who suffers from it, but which extends the interventions to the family environment. As the Veneto Region we are starting the new year by completing an innovative path, which complements the already existing one, for taking care of people suffering from autism spectrum disorder, providing not only direct methods of intervention, but evaluating a path of entering the world of work, in society, within the family and in the school career”.
With these words the Councilor for Health and Social Policies, Manuela Lanzarin, announces that the Regional Council has approved the program of the decree, dated 29 July, of the Minister for Disabilities in concert with the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Minister of Labour, which concerns the “Allocation and methods for using of the resources of the Fund for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities”, with the aim of carrying out interventions dedicated to people with autism spectrum disorder.
The decree assigns to the Veneto Region 8,230,000 euros, intended to finance the implementation of additional and unstructured interventions and projects, dedicated to the “promotion of the well-being and quality of life of people with autism spectrum disorder, assisted in a broader context of social inclusion. Therefore, the regional legislation already passed on the matter is inserted and completes it.
“We have foreseen a series of additional interventions with a strong value that trace a path to support people with this disorder and their families – underlines the councilor Manuela Lanzarin -. We have already scheduled the interventions for which the over 8 million will be used, identified the actions and the teams that will have to implement this 360-degree taking charge. It really is a composite and targeted project that starts from the concept of the centrality of the person in the planning process, provides for multidisciplinarity of taking charge and a strong integration between the different resources. Our goal is to plan according to principles of subsidiarity to involve different actors with the aim of building a global management of the person, responding to needs in a coordinated, integrated and continuous way with the construction of a network of services and opportunities for inclusion that accompany the entire span of life. These are the cornerstones on which we have moved to build the innovative path”.
“In fact, social and health care interventions provided for by the guidelines on the treatment of autism spectrum disorders of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità will be put in place, including through social and health vouchers to be used to purchase services – the Councilor details -. Starting with socialization assistance courses dedicated to minors and transitional age up to 21 years, also through vouchers, projects aimed at providing assistance to local authorities, also associated with each other, to support the school activity of people with disabilities of the autism spectrum within the individualized therapeutic project. Then there will be projects aimed at socialization paths with outdoor activities such as walking groups, musical activities and sports activities dedicated to high-functioning adults”.
There will also be projects aimed at the third sector to promote inclusion through social activities (sports, recreational time, exhibitions)experimental projects aimed at training and work inclusion, interventions aimed at training families who assist people with autism spectrum disorder, other experimental residential projects and for supported housing aimed at promoting the well-being and quality of life of people with autism spectrum disorders.
In summary, the planning of additional interventions is envisaged with respect to the levels of activity of the regional planning which foresee within the framework of the welfare project: Social-health assistance interventions foreseen by the guidelines on the treatment of autism spectrum disorders of the Higher Institute of Health, also through vouchers social and health services to be used to purchase services (target users 3-64 years old. Assistance courses for socialization dedicated to minors and transitional age up to 21 years, also through vouchers (target users 3-21 years old). Projects aimed at providing assistance to local authorities, also associated with each other, to support the school activity of people with their autistic spectrum in the context of the individualized therapeutic project and the PEI. Projects aimed at socialization paths with activities in an external environment (walking groups, musical activity, sporting activity) dedicated to high-functioning adults n. estimated projects. Projects that address the third sector to promote inclusion through social activities (sports, leisure time, exhibitions). Experimental projects aimed at training and work inclusion Interventions aimed at training families who assist people with spectrum disorders. Experimental residential and supported housing projects aimed at promoting the well-being and quality of life of people with autism spectrum disorders.
“Important challenges await us – concludes councilor Lanzarin -. Our primary objective remains the centrality of the person within a program that provides for different and complementary actions. Involving different actors, each of whom brings skills and experience, is the main road we have set ourselves to be able to give answers on a personal scale”.
Autism. Regional programming of 8 million euro approved – Rovigo.News