Children with autism and their families deserve a system that does not hold them back, but rather empowers them, said Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography Damir Gutić.
He met today with representatives of parents of children with autism and other organizations of people with disabilities to discuss key topics related to improving the situation of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
On that occasion, the Law on Unified Disability Expertise and the working version of the draft of the new Law on Social and Child Protection, which is under preparation, were discussed, and the Draft Law is expected to be established by the end of the current year, the Ministry announced.
Gutić said that both laws are aimed at creating a fairer, more efficient and more accessible system of support for children with developmental disabilities and people with disabilities, with a special emphasis on children with autism and their families.
"The new legal framework should provide a single and objective system of disability assessment in accordance with the human rights model, which will replace the current fragmentation of jurisdictions and procedures. By doing so, we want to simplify and accelerate the realization of rights, while respecting the individual needs of each child," he said.
Parents highlighted specific challenges they face in their daily lives, including inaccessibility of services, lengthy administrative procedures, lack of adequate professional support in the community and adequate support for families. They also expressed hope that the new laws will bring substantive changes, not just formal amendments.
Gutić said that the Ministry remains open to all proposals and suggestions from parents, as well as experts and the general public, so that the laws respond to the real needs of users to the greatest extent possible.
"This is not just a legal reform, but a step towards creating a society that does not exclude, but understands and supports. Children with autism and their families deserve a system that does not hold them back, but empowers them," the minister said.
The Ministry announced that it will organize Info Days in the coming weeks, so that all interested parties will have the opportunity to learn more about the Law on Unified Disability Expertise.
"Once the Draft Law on Social and Child Protection is agreed upon, a public debate will be organized, where all interested parties can participate and provide their suggestions, thereby contributing to the best possible finalization of certain legal solutions," the statement reads.
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