What Is Needed on World Autism Day?
April 3, 2023
Dr. Yasser Al-Saabi
Every year on April 2nd, the world celebrates World Autism Day. Each year brings a new theme and goal for this occasion. The celebration takes various forms, most notably illuminating government buildings and rehabilitation centers in blue. Media interviews proliferate with specialists providing rehabilitation services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Scientific conferences also abound for this occasion. Lectures repeat, questions repeat every year, answers repeat, and celebrations repeat as well. The goal of World Autism Day is not merely celebration; this disorder does not simply need displaying the color blue here and there. This disorder requires comprehensive, integrated plans and concerted efforts by governmental and private entities to reduce the burdens arising from it. Autism spectrum disorder is a condition requiring comprehensive and integrated therapeutic and rehabilitation programs, such as occupational therapy, speech and language programs, behavior modification programs, academic programs, vocational rehabilitation programs, and medical programs. As is widely known, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, alongside the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviors. Deficits in social communication manifest in various ways and can include impaired joint attention, as well as challenges in using verbal and non-verbal communication behaviors for social interaction. Restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities manifest in stereotypies, repetitive speech, motor movements, or use of objects; and inflexible adherence to routines.
On World Autism Day, we must pause and evaluate the services available for addressing this disorder, from diagnosis to rehabilitation. There are countless questions we must raise to evaluate the current diagnostic and rehabilitative reality of autism spectrum disorder. Is autism spectrum disorder diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team? Do we have a sufficient number of these teams, if any? Is the disorder diagnosed early and accurately? Why do families move from specialist to specialist and center to center, receiving conflicting diagnoses? Why does diagnosis occur at a late age? Why are pediatricians not required to complete the autism screening form at 18 months and then at 24 months, as is the practice in Western countries? Another crucial question is: do we have a sufficient number of qualified male and female specialists to diagnose and rehabilitate individuals with autism spectrum disorder? Do we have accurate statistics on the number of specialists? Do we know the proportion and number of individuals with autism spectrum disorder? Is there a national registry for these figures and statistics? Has the cost of rehabilitating each individual diagnosed with this disorder been calculated? Are diagnostic and rehabilitation services available in public and private schools? Do insurance companies cover the costs of diagnosis and rehabilitation? Are there awareness and education programs for families of individuals with autism spectrum disorder? Are there scientifically supervised support groups for parents? Are services provided across all countries and regions as required? Are rehabilitation services delivered optimally across all fields? Are services provided in a timely manner? Are there clear, well-defined plans to address this disorder in the coming years?
The most critical question remains: what is required of us on World Autism Day? What is required is substantial and immense. First and foremost, what is needed is a comprehensive assessment of available diagnostic and rehabilitation services, alongside the formulation of future plans to ensure the provision of comprehensive, high-quality, evidence-based services. What is needed is for the state to provide all rehabilitation services free of charge, given that the costs of these services are very high and long-term. What is needed is the inclusion of these children in schools starting from pre-kindergarten to ensure their right to education, just like their typical peers. What is needed is ensuring an adequate number of specialists across all fields (speech-language pathologists, applied behavior analysis specialists, occupational therapists, special education specialists, and others). What is needed is qualifying specialists optimally to ensure services are delivered scientifically, grounded in proven scientific evidence. What is needed is providing an adequate number of centers in all regions. What is needed is establishing specific annual plans to improve the quality of services provided. What is needed is developing training and awareness programs for parents. What is needed on World Autism Day 2023 is to evaluate the progress made on the plans and programs agreed upon or proposed on World Autism Day 2022. What is needed is conducting and supporting research to ensure the effectiveness of the programs provided.
I am not calling for us not to celebrate World Autism Day every April 2nd each year; rather, I call for us to celebrate the achievements made toward raising the quality of services provided. We demand that celebrating World Autism Day be through establishing annual plans aimed at improving the quality and standard of diagnostic and rehabilitation services. And since the theme of World Autism Day 2023 is "Transformation: Toward an Inclusive World", let us work toward a comprehensive transformation in the mechanisms and methods of delivering diagnostic and rehabilitation services, by providing the required numbers of qualified male and female specialists and by increasing the number of specialized government centers. Let the focus truly be on the comprehensiveness and integration of strategies, regulations, and laws concerning autism spectrum disorder.
Dr. Yasser Al-Saabi
Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.
