April 2 marks the World Autism Awareness Day. This day emphasizes our commitment to accept, support and include autistic people, and advocate for their rights on an equal basis with others, and serves the purpose of raising awareness about them.

Along with the mentioned, it is very important to recognize the contributions made by autistic people in different areas of public life. This year, the celebration of the World Autism Awareness Day focuses on the contributions that autistic people make to the families, workplace, art and policy making.[1]

The UN Secretary-General's message[2] for Autism Awareness Day 2023 says that despite important progress, persons with autism continue to face social and environmental barriers to the full exercise of their rights and fundamental freedoms.

In Georgia, despite some positive steps taken in recent years to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, people with autism still face many challenges, including equal access to preschool services, inclusive education, employment, health care and rehabilitation/habilitation programmes, as well as stigma and stereotypes widespread in society. Full geographic coverage of targeted rehabilitation services tailored to the needs of persons with autism remains an unresolved problem in the country, and there is currently no effective targeted state programme for managing challenging behavior. The situation of adults with autism is especially difficult. The fragmented rehabilitation programmes that operate in several municipalities for minors with autism are not available to them.

The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Government to take measures to help people with autism to live independently, integrate into society, realize their right to employment, education, have access to health care, continuous rehabilitation and other state programmes, as well as to create equal development opportunities for them and recognize their contribution. It is important to raise awareness to eliminate stigma and wrong attitudes in society. Psychological and social support to persons with disabilities and their families is also important.

According to the decision of the UN General Assembly, the Autism Awareness Day has been celebrated worldwide since 2008.

[1] https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day

[2] The message is available at: <https://bit.ly/3TTYct1>