The Minister of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, accompanied by the president of Autism Spain, Miguel Ángel de Casas, visited the Spanish Autism Center on Tuesday. The Ministry of Social Rights presented the first action plan for the integration of people with autism, which is endowed with 40 million euros and aims to achieve earlier diagnosis and better integration into social and work life. The plan is part of the Spanish Strategy on Autism Spectrum Disorders, approved by the Council of Ministers in November 2015. It was a long-awaited measure for the at least 450,000 people living with autism in Spain.
Autism spectrum disorder is not a disease, but a condition that affects the configuration of the nervous system and brain function. This condition persists throughout life and affects two areas of neurobiological development: communication and social interaction, and flexibility of thought and behavior. People with autism may have difficulties understanding verbal and non-verbal language and interpreting social interactions; they may also exhibit rigid thinking and restricted or repetitive interests. This behavior often makes them victims of bullying, as children with autism are twice as likely to experience bullying as others. It also creates challenges for employment integration, as communication plays a significant role in selection criteria.
Although autism can be detected as early as one and a half years old, the varying intensities and manifestations of the condition can make diagnosis challenging and often delayed. The average age of diagnosis in Spain is five and a half years, but many individuals are diagnosed in adulthood. A timely diagnosis is crucial as it provides individuals with an explanation for their social skills difficulties, bringing relief and understanding. Late diagnosis is more common in women due to gender biases in diagnostic tools that are tailored to more common manifestations in boys, making passive and withdrawn behaviors in girls less noticeable.
Early diagnosis and support programs are essential for the social and employment integration of people with autism. Timely diagnosis and support programs enhance the social and work integration of individuals with autism. The social and employment integration of people with autism increases with early diagnosis and support programs that facilitate it.Ensuring early diagnosis is crucial for individuals with autism, as it can lead to better outcomes in social and work integration.
The Minister of Social Rights presented a plan of action for the integration of people with autism, aiming to achieve earlier diagnosis and better integration into social and work life. The plan is part of the Spanish Strategy on Autism Spectrum Disorders, introduced in November 2015. Autism is not a disease but a neurological condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. Late diagnosis, which is more common in women due to gender biases, can hinder social and work integration. Early diagnosis and support programs are essential for the successful integration of individuals with autism.
