A CALL has gone out to organise a parliamentary debate to scrutinise the government’s national programmes and services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Ten MPs, led by Hasan Ibrahim, are seeking a comprehensive discussion on how Bahrain diagnoses, supports, educates and integrates people with autism into society.
Mr Ibrahim said the debate was long overdue and further alleged that families were shouldering mounting financial and psychological burdens due to ‘limited specialised services and high treatment costs’.
“The noticeable rise in autism diagnoses in recent years demands that we reassess whether current policies and services are truly adequate,” he said. “Many Bahraini families are struggling quietly with the cost of therapy, rehabilitation and education, while facing a shortage of specialised centres and qualified personnel.”
The proposed debate will cover several pillars, beginning with the government’s policy on diagnosing and classifying autism cases, the stages of diagnosis, and the role and readiness of primary healthcare centres in early detection and therapeutic intervention. It will also examine social support mechanisms, including disability allowances, the categories eligible for assistance, and whether the financial support provided matches the real needs of families caring for individuals with ASD.
Another major focus will be oversight of both government and private rehabilitation centres to ensure standards of care, alongside a review of programmes offered by relevant ministries dealing with developmental and social services.
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Mr Ibrahim
Education forms a central theme of the proposal. MPs are seeking clarity on the number of government schools currently equipped to accommodate students with autism, plans to establish specialised schools or classrooms, and whether dedicated curricula exist for this category of students.
The debate will further address how students with autism are integrated into mainstream classrooms, the level of co-ordination between ministries and entities to achieve this integration, and policies governing the training and preparation of educational and supervisory staff to handle such cases.
“Care and rehabilitation for individuals with autism require exceptional attention and expertise,” Mr Ibrahim said.
“Without properly trained teachers and supervisors, and without suitable educational environments, integration becomes a slogan rather than a reality.”
He emphasised that raising the issue in Parliament would highlight the daily hardships faced by families and help drive more coherent and co-ordinated government action. “This is not only a medical or educational matter. It is a social responsibility. Integration into society must be backed by clear policies, sufficient resources and real co-operation between all entities concerned,” he added.
The MPs believe that a public debate will compel ministries to present transparent data on the number of autism cases, existing service capacity, and future expansion plans, while identifying gaps that require urgent legislative or executive action.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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