In the June 1 Resource Center, they say that in the last few years they have had an increased number of children with autism. However, it is not yet known how many such persons there are in Montenegro. The director of the center says that once every 10 children were born with autism.
"Now, for every 68 healthy children born, we have one person with autism. We have 50 or so children from Podgorica who have been diagnosed with autism, but what worries me is that we do not know the exact number in Montenegro and I am afraid that it is much higher the number of children who are not registered," said Željko Đuranović, director of the Resource Center.
That people with autism are still hidden in Montenegrin society, points out MP Emilo Labudović, whose party initiated the establishment of the Center for Autism through legal changes. That's why he appeals to everyone who deals with this issue to react.
"To put public pressure on the local communities, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and all those institutions involved in this story, so that if nothing else we at least get accurate information on who the people are, how many there are, what types of illnesses they have and what their the most important thing is their social status," said Labudović.
Parents of children with autism point out that they did receive some figures from the Ministry of Education.
"Currently, there are 157 children with hearing and speech disorders, and according to MEIS - electronic diaries that follow kindergartens and schools, there are 254 children involved, there is a problem," said Milica Miličić from NVU "Staze".
The lack of special education teachers and speech therapists who would work with children was emphasized during the discussion. They also see teaching assistants as a good solution.
"My son is in the fourth grade and I notice a huge difference, and that is one program we need to deal with because the system of financial support for assistants is not sufficiently provided," Miličić added.
Director of the Resource Center "1. jun'' also proposes the establishment of a faculty where specialists for working with children with autism would be trained, or to provide them with scholarships for education outside of Montenegro.
"Not only when it comes to resource centers, but for inclusive education, you need special education teachers, you need experts. Unfortunately, we don't have them," Đuranović said.
Everyone is pinning their hopes on the establishment of a National Center for People with Autism.
"Official Montenegro is not yet aware of the problem when it comes to this issue, this is an epidemic. We can't wait for another case of Ognjenov, may his soul rest in peace, noble children, so that society can start again and think about this problem again." said DF MP Emilo Labudović.
Benjamin Perks from the Unicef office in Montenegro said that parents must be given enough knowledge and information so that they can help their child in the long term, especially in the earliest phase of life when early intervention takes place. Perks added that parents should be provided with all the psychological and social support they need.
And, in the whole story, financial support is also very important, which, among other things, will be dealt with in the "Ognjen Rakočević" foundation.
"That financial moment is perhaps the biggest problem because it all needs to be united and the family and society need to endure it all," said Valentina Rakočević, Ognjen Rakočević's mother.
The round table "For a better future for people with autism" was organized by the non-governmental organization "Naše sunce".
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