Felicity (Saadet) Party Disabled Coordination President Israfil Bayrakçı stated that autism is also an obstacle in the press statement he made at his party's Headquarters on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day.
"It is a developmental disability that usually starts in the first 3 years of life and continues throughout life, which can be expressed as the inability of the person to establish appropriate verbal and non-verbal relations with his environment," he said.
"1 IN EVERY 54 CHILDREN IS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM"
Bayrakçı pointed out that the number of autism disease has increased in the world over the years and that it is seen in more children annually.
"Autism is seen more frequently in our country, as in the whole world, compared to the past. While 1 out of every 2,500 children was diagnosed with autism in 1985, it is estimated that 1 out of every 54 children born today is diagnosed with autism. In order to bring this rapid increase to the agenda of all countries, the United Nations declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day in 2008," he added.
5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT BY AUTISM
Referring to the data of NGOs that conduct research on children with autism, Bayrakçı stated that 5 million people in Turkey are directly or indirectly affected.
"When we look at the population projection, it is estimated that there are approximately 1 million 387 thousand 580 individuals with autism in our country and that there are 5 million 550 thousand 320 family members affected by this condition. While 72 percent of our people state that they have heard of autism, 52 percent have information about the symptoms of autism," he said.
92 PERCENT OF AUTISM CANNOT ACCESS EDUCATION
Pointing out that early diagnosis has an important place in autism, Bayrakçı emphasized that the education to be given after the diagnosis in autism is also important
"It is possible for individuals with autism to lead a healthier life and to prevent the seriousness of these conditions with special education that starts at an early age. However, 92 percent of our autistic children and youth, whose number exceeds 600 thousand, cannot access education. The rate of those who have special education opportunities is only 5 percent. The figure of 41 thousand 854, which was announced by the Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer as registered to the e-school system, clearly reveals this fact," he called.