Podgorica, (MINA) - It is necessary to provide systemic and sustainable support for children and adults with autism, as well as their families, the Office of the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic stated.

In a press release marking the World Autism Day, the Office of the President stated that Montenegro still does not have a public register of children and persons with autism, and the available support is insufficient.

“For this reason, many families seek treatment and services abroad, even though these services should be available in Montenegro, in every municipality”, the President’s office stated.

It is stated that, based on the need to establish a sustainable and fair support system, the Office of the President of Montenegro proposed a set of measures to improve the situation in which children and adults with autism and their families find themselves, which include establishment of a unique register of children and persons with autism in Montenegro.

The President’s Office also proposed enabling mandatory systemic support for parents, as well as providing education for experts and public office holders, to improve understanding of children’s needs, eliminate stereotypes and stigma, and ensure more efficient coordination of support within society.

Among the proposed measures is the adoption of a law on speech therapy and defectology, which would regulate this area, introduce a licensing and supervision system for professionals, ensure a higher level of quality of services and equal access to professional support within the public system of healthcare, education and social protection.

They also proposed strengthening the capacity of existing specialized institutions and developing a network of local services, so that support for children on the autism spectrum would be available in the community and reduce the need for treatment abroad.