Organization of medical and social assistance to children with autism spectrum disorder in the Russian Federation

Abstract

Goal. Analysis of the development of rehabilitation infrastructure in the Russian Federation, including organizations of various departmental affiliations and forms of ownership, providing rehabilitation services to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
 Methods.Analytical: the level of primary child disability due to mental and behavioral disorders, including ASD, was studied in the Russian Federation for 2017-2019. according to the official statistics of the Ministry of Labor of Russia. The work of 1,788 organizations providing rehabilitation measures to children with ASD is analyzed based on Federal Resource Center for the Organization of Comprehensive Support for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (as of October 2019). Rehabilitation infrastructure for children with ASD is grouped by Federal Districts and presented in the diagrams. The data of the Federal Resource Center for the Organization of Comprehensive Support for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (as of October 2019) were used.
 Results. The data were obtained on the growth of the level of primary disability among children with mental and behavioral disorders, including autism, in the Russian Federation. Rehabilitation activities for children with ASD are provided by organizations of various departmental affiliations: education (91%), social protection (3%), healthcare (0.5%), culture and sports (0.6%), non-profit organizations (5%). The most developed rehabilitation infrastructure for children with ASD has developed in the education system. For coordination and methodological guidance, 23 regional resource centers for people with ASD were created, of which 87% are in the field of education, 13% in the social protection system.
 Conclusion.In modern Russia, there is an increase in the disability of children with mental and behavioral disorders, including autism, in this regard, the rehabilitation infrastructure for children with ASD is intensively developing. At the same time, the network of regional resource centers needs to be developed. There is a need for a unified comprehensive approach to assessing the condition, identifying needs and implementing rehabilitation measures for children with ASD, which is applicable both in departments and at the interdepartmental level. The International Classification of Functioning, Disabilities and Health (WHO, 2001) is such a universal language for interdepartmental and interdisciplinary interaction.