Autism Awareness Day: Why we need a European approach to autism
A strategic and integrated European approach to autism spectrum disorder would provide much-needed support to persons on the autism spectrum as well as their families in these challenging times, writes Victor Negrescu.
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16 Mar 2021
In September 2015, together with several MEP colleagues, I signed the Written Declaration on Autism, approved which called upon Member States and the European Commission to adopt a common strategy. Today, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, European actions in the field have become obsolete.
The Coronavirus lockdowns have had a negative impact on the medical, psychological, and educational support provided to people on the autism spectrum. The restrictions imposed in most Member States led to increased isolation, difficulties in accessing home assistance, a lack of medical support from specialists, and in turn an increase in the psychological and emotional challeng