The lack of specialized structures and qualified personnel remains a major obstacle to suitable care.
Rapport : In its report, which has just been published, the association is defeating autism makes a series of recommendations for the development of a national strategy for taking charge of autism. Efforts remain to be made to structure a real public policy dedicated to this disorder.
The Association Vainment L’Autism has just published its report on the state of autism in Morocco. This document draws up an inventory of this neur-developmental disorder in Morocco and presents a series of recommendations for the development of a national care strategy. In its report, the association points out that Morocco has started a gradual awareness of the question of autism, although public policy actions are still limited. For years, autism has been misunderstood and little taken into account in health and education policies. That said, under the leadership of associations and civil society, the public authorities are starting to integrate this problem into their reflections and strategies. Thus, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has launched several initiatives aimed at improving the care of autistic people, in particular by encouraging early diagnosis and strengthening the training of health professionals. Despite these efforts, the association notes that the lack of specialized structures and qualified personnel remains a major obstacle to suitable care. On the legislative level, the framework law 97.13 relating to the rights of people with disabilities recognizes the right to accessibility to care and education for autistic children. However, the application of these provisions remains unequal and insufficient in the face of the growing needs of families. The association notes that the National Mental Health Program, which includes certain measures in favor of neurodevelopment disorders, constitutes an advance, but it does not yet fully meet the expectations of families and professionals. Overcoming autism considers that efforts remain to be made to structure a real public policy dedicated to autism, including official recognition of the specific needs of autistic people, the development of a specialized care offer and strengthened support for civil society initiatives, which often overcome the shortcomings of public services.
Establishment of a national autism committee
The association has issued several recommendations for the development of a national strategy in favor of autistic people. Among these is the establishment of a national autism committee, placed under the aegis of the government. This committee will centralize the coordination of the actions of the ministries concerned (the Ministries of Health, National Education, Employment and Solidarity,) as well as associations and representatives of users, health professionals and experts. Its main missions would be to define national priorities, assess existing systems, design a multi -year national plan dedicated to autism, with clear objectives and precise monitoring indicators. In addition, the association recommends the creation of a national autism reference center accompanied by regional centers within the CHU. This reference center will be responsible for ensuring coordination between the various regional centers. He will pilot clinical, fundamental and translational research projects on autism. Among other things, it will have the mission of organizing training for health, medico-social and educational professionals and ensuring scientific and technological watch on autism approaches.
For their part, regional centers within the CHUs will have to ensure the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (children, adolescents, adults), offer a personalized support and care course, train regional health professionals in good practices. Its mission will also be to contribute to the collection of regional data on autism spectrum disorders (TSA). To ensure coherent and quality management, it is crucial to adopt a structured national benchmark for screening, diagnosis and management of the TSA. Based on the most recent scientific data, this repository will include standardized intervention protocols and guarantee the quality of care through various health, educational and medico-social structures. Faced with the growing needs of autistic people and the insufficient accessible and adapted specialized structures, it is essential to support the creation of a national network of establishments dedicated to the management of autism. The association recommends the implementation of a compulsory national certification accompanied by a continuing education framework, which will guarantee homogeneous practices, based on validated approaches and adapted to the needs of autistic people.
