Elyssa Khouaja Announces Launch of Pilot Program for Children with Autism
Elyssa Khouaja, a representative from the Ministry of Family, Women, Children, and Seniors, confirmed that the ministry has launched a pilot program for early support of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This program, now in its third consecutive year, aims to integrate these children into kindergarten, with partial coverage of their specialized care costs.
Details of the Program
During a study day organized by the Arab Organization for Education, Culture, and Sciences (ALECSO) in collaboration with the Tunisian Organization for Education and Family, on the theme of "Educational Integration of Autistic Children: Reality and Perspectives," and on the occasion of World Teachers' Day (October 5), Elyssa Khouaja detailed the support provided. The ministry covers approximately 200 dinars per child from needy or low-income families. Part of this amount is allocated to registration fees, and the other part is intended to cover speech therapy, psychomotor therapy, and psychological follow-up sessions.
Increase in Beneficiaries
She highlighted that the number of beneficiaries of this program has doubled, from 300 children in 2023 to 600 children in 2024, with the ambition to reach 1,000 children in 2025.
Complementarity of Ministerial Roles
Ms. Khouaja also emphasized the complementarity of the roles of the concerned ministries:
- The Ministry of Health for early detection
- The Ministry of Family for care in kindergartens
- The Ministry of Education for integration into basic education
- The Ministry of Social Affairs for granting subsidies and aid to families
Importance of Early Diagnosis
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Meftah, President of the Tunisian Organization for Education and Family, recalled the importance of early diagnosis and called for the need for the state to support parents' efforts and help them in caring for and rehabilitating their children, in order to ensure their full integration into society.
