April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
Translated from the original.
Today is a day of much reflection and struggle for all of us, parents of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and citizens committed to the inclusion and full citizenship of all Brazilians. World Autism Awareness Day spurs us to fight for accessibility, for respect, against discrimination and disinformation.
With my beloved son Mateus, I learn every day. I see the progress brought by long-term multidisciplinary support. Today, he is a jiu-jitsu martial arts athlete, studies English and has mastered Spanish, breaking one barrier after another.
I wish that all Brazilians with autism have the same opportunities. For that, public managers must be made aware that the constitutional requirement of the right to health covers everyone, persons with disabilities or not. The same goes for health plans, which cannot discriminate against patients with special needs.
In 2023, there was a surge of complaints to the ANS against health plans because of unilateral cancellations of beneficiaries with autism. From 6,265 complaints in 2022, a sharp increase to 14,520 last year. This situation creates legal uncertainty and harms the access of people with autism to indispensable treatments.
Today and always, all my solidarity with the cause I have embraced and which makes me very proud.
Fábio Medina Osório
Principal Medina Osório Advogados