The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — Autism advocates on Friday urged the passage of the National Autism Care Support and Inclusion Act, stressing that awareness alone is no longer sufficient. In a press conference in Quezon City, Autism Society Philippines Goodwill Ambassador and former Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee emphasized the need to move beyond awareness toward genuine inclusion of individuals on the autism spectrum. “When we talk about autism today, I believe we can all agree that it can't just stop at awareness. It has to continue to grow towards autism acceptance, towards empowered inclusion, and towards economic inclusion as well,” Dee said. Drawing from her experiences growing up with two siblings on the autism spectrum in the United States, Dee noted gaps in the Philippine healthcare and support systems compared to those abroad. She underscored the potential of the proposed measure to help bridge these gaps and reduce stigma surrounding autism. The National Autism Care Support and Inclusion Act, which was recently passed on third reading in the Senate, seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for autism care, support services, and inclusive policies across government agencies.
Go to News Site