On the occasion of marking World Autism Day, the Prime Minister’s Office, in cooperation with the “Autism” Association, the National Autism Association in Kosovo (ANAK) and the “Autism Speaks” Association, has organized a conference with the topic “Support me, to enjoy my rights”.
In this conference, the general situation of people with autism in Kosovo was discussed and their needs were addressed, where it was requested to create a database to show the number of people with autism.
The Director of the Office for Good Governance from the Prime Minister’s Office, Habit Hajredini, said that the issue of equal treatment is a priority for the Government.
According to him, the Government has focused on the implementation of legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, Hatixhe Hoxha, from the Autism Association, had complaints against the Government and ministries. She said that in Kosovo there is still no specific database showing the number of all people with autism, there is a lack of legal infrastructure and there is a lack of assistance in schools and speech therapists.
Although the Government has worked in this direction in recent years, employing 100 assistants for children with disabilities in schools, she said that this is only a drop of water in the ocean, because it is most important that children have assistance in schools.
Blerta Perolli, vice dean at the Faculty of Education, said that according to studies that have been done over the years, it has been proven that intervention in early childhood has changed the path of children’s development.
The World Autism Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations, with resolution “62/139” in 2007, as an attempt to end discrimination against people with autism. /A. Shala/