European Parliament adopts new non-binding resolution entitled “Harmonising rights of autistic people”.
On Wednesday 4 of October 2023, a non-binding resolution entitled “Harmonising rights of autistic people” was adopted by the EU Parliament. The resolution calls on the European Commission and the EU Member States to better consider the rights and needs of autistic people.
The resolution calls for greater recognition of rights across varying sectors, including healthcare, education and employment, and culture and sport. It pushes for better access to diagnosis, better accessibility and provision of reasonable accommodation, an improvement of lifelong support in the community and deinstitutionalisation, and training of professionals across sectors. It calls for more research and dedication to fight against violence and forced sterilisation.
The resolution identifies a concern that persons with autism might not be as easily eligible for the upcoming European Disability Card , and that is something to consider. This is due to many autistic people across Europe struggling to have their disability status recognised. It is also a reminder that autism is a spectrum, and the needs of one person can greatly differ to those of the next.
The resolution also highlights the additional difficulties faced by autistic persons who identify as female. It highlights the importance of better acknowledging and facing the intersectional struggles that autistic people who also belong to more vulnerable groups might face. It remarks the importance of having sufficient funds, as often girls and women on the autism spectrum face particularly high levels of poverty, social exclusion and violence. The resolution stresses the importance of making forced sterilisation punishable as a criminal offence.
Moreover, the resolution stresses that the new AccessibleEU resource centre should pay attention to autism-specific accessibility. It puts an emphasis on the right to inclusive education for autistic people and calls for individualised ongoing support, assistance, and better access to vocational education and training.