Derya YANIK, Minister of Family and Social Services, Opened Educational Activity Centre in Sakarya
Derya YANIK, Minister of Family and Social Services, said, “As a result of the policies we have created and implemented by considering autism as a difference, we have implemented the 1st Autism Action Plan under the leadership of our Ministry. We are now working on the second one. Hopefully we will be able to implement it in a very short time.”
Minister Derya YANIK attended the opening ceremony of the "Educational Activity Centre" located in the Fatma-Hamit Atay Autism, Disability Life, Care, Rehabilitation and Family Counselling Centre in Arifiye district. In her speech here, YANIK said that every beautiful touch made to human life is an occasion for new hopes and new dreams to sprout in the world.
Minister YANIK, stating that autism spectrum, which is a neuro-developmental disorder, attracts attention due to its increasing prevalence in the world and in Türkiye, said, "Due to these developments, as a requirement of our state policy, we have taken and continue to take measures for the needs of individuals with autism and their families, with an effort to specifically study the problems of each disability group."
Emphasizing that the understanding of service is rights-based in all social services, but especially in the works carried out for disability groups, Minister YANIK said, "We have created and continue to create social service models based on our rights-based service understanding. As a result of the policies we have created and implemented by evaluating autism as a difference, we have implemented our first and only action plan, namely the 1st Autism Action Plan, under the leadership of our Ministry. We are now working on the second one. Hopefully, we will be able to implement it in a very short time."
"We host individuals with autism free of charge in residential care centres up to 45 days a year"
Emphasizing that they are aware that the only key that will change the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder and prepare them for the future is early diagnosis and early education, YANIK said: "Therefore, with the 'Autism Screening and Follow-up Program' implemented by the Ministry of Health together with the Autism Action Plan, we have now started to ensure that our children are diagnosed early and thus have access to early education. We lead the transformation of specialized boarding and day care centres for individuals with autism in institutional services. In order to support the participation of families in social life, we host individuals with autism free of charge in our residential care centres up to 45 days a year. We provide services to individuals with autism who cannot be cared for with their families in our residential care centres.”
“It is our duty to remove autism from being an obstacle in front of individuals”
Minister YANIK, stating that they will continue to develop and implement the 1st Autism Action Plan, in which they have made important progress in developing services for individuals with autism and their families, in early diagnosis and in raising awareness for all segments of the society, said: “We will continue our efforts to meet the needs of our children with autism and their families in the 2nd Autism Action Plan, which we announced last year. We are currently continuing focus meetings with the public and civil society in order to finalize the action plan. After that, hopefully our 2nd Autism Action Plan will be implemented as a realistic plan with the participation of all stakeholders. It is our duty as government institutions to remove autism from being an obstacle in front of individuals and to provide opportunities to make their lives easier. However, seeing our differences as our wealth and bringing them into social life is the duty of both the state and all individuals in the society. For this reason, we accelerated our education and awareness activities on autism and made important steps in raising awareness in all segments of the society.”
“We are starting supervisor trainings within our 81 Provincial Directorates”
Minister YANIK, stating that they will continue the training of the personnel, which is one of the important activities that increase awareness on autism, said: “We are starting supervisor training in our 81 Provincial Directorates in order to manage the behaviours of our children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, to provide them with social life skills and to contribute to the education of their families. Every child is special. In our civilization, every child is special, entrusted to all of us. Undoubtedly, they are more special for their families. We care that our children grow up with their families with love and compassion. As the Ministry, we develop our social policy practices for our children in a framework where family integrity is protected and our children can complete the care and rehabilitation process together with their families. At our 130 day care and rehabilitation centres, we provide all services, including pick-up and drop-off of our children from their homes.”