West European Sub-Regional Meeting 23rd & 24th September 2010
The sub-regional meeting of the European Autism Action for west European countries took place in Palma de Mallorca on 23rd & 24th September. The opening of the meeting was honoured with words of welcome from Don Jose Pérez Beites, President of Gaspar Hauser, a local NGO which provides a comprehensive range of services to adults and children with ASD in Mallorca and Don Juan Manuel de la Rosa, Director General of the Balearic Government Foundation, who spoke of the local authorities’ commitment to services for autism and the need for a ‘grass roots’ focus. Mr Brian Murnane, Chair of Irish Autism Action, the host agency of this initiative, also welcomed the group and emphasised the importance of a multi-faceted approach to autism public health issues.
The gathering of representatives from autism organisations and professionals from 18 western European countries was expertly chaired by Sir Christopher Ball. The context for the meeting was set by Sir Christopher’s introduction and a very informative talk by Professor Antonio Persico of the University of Rome, who heroically stepped in at the last minute when the programmed speaker was unable to travel due to industrial action.
There followed a presentation by Antoni Montserrat of the European Commission DG-SANCO, who explained how the EU has supported autism-related projects in the past and the mechanisms by which it can continue to do this. However, he highlighted the need to lobby, to maintain autism as part of the Work Programme for 2011. He also emphasised the importance of the European Autism Action Conference in clarifying the public health needs for autism in Europe and lobbying for ASD to be included in the Third Health Programme 2014-2019
, which will decided upon next year.
A report from the 3rd Panel of Experts on ASD meeting, held in March in Luxembourg, was given by Dr Simon Wallace of Autism Speaks. Zsuzsanna Szilvásy gave an informative overview of the work of Autism Europe, the organisation of which she is President-elect, and through which many of the participants were invited to the meeting.
Dr Alvaro Ramirez, Chair of the European Autism Public Health Alliance (eapha), shared his vision of applying a public health framework to autism in Europe and explained how eapha has evolved and its aim to drive the strategic public health plan for autism forward over the next ten years and into the future. He emphasised the importance to eapha of full participation and ownership of this plan and its execution by stakeholders in autism.
Ms Kari Steindal, of the National Autism Unit, Norway and former Chair of the Committee of experts in the Council of Europe concerning inclusion and education of children and young persons with ASD, presented the recommendations of the Committee, which have been ratified by 47 countries. The Committee’s report will be published in the near future. Ms Steindal emphasised how these recommendations can be used to help lobby national governments.
There followed a series of country presentations from Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Country representatives spoke about the level of awareness, diagnostic pathway, services and prevalence where data were available. The presentations gave a very thorough overview of autism across Western Europe, which will be described in the final report.
On the second day of the meeting, delegates worked in small discussion groups, looking at what recommendations they believe should be included in an outline strategy for Europe over the next ten years around the key public health areas of research, services, policy, advocacy and surveillance. After energetic and enthusiastic discussion and feedback from the groups, there was a plenary session and summing up by Sir Christopher Ball. The meeting was closed with words of thanks to Ms Maribel Morueco Alonso, Director of APNAB (Balearic Islands Association of Parents of Children with Autism) and Gaspar Hauser, who made all the local arrangements for the meeting and made the delegates feel so welcome. Thanks were also given to Rafael Ferragut Bonafé, proprietor of the Auditorium de Palma, who had very kindly given the use of the wonderful conference facilities free of charge for the meeting. Jesús Mullor, Director General of Social Services from the Mallorcan Institute of Social Affairs closed the meeting with words of encouragement and continued support of the Autism services in Mallorca.
Delegates from many countries offered to translate the questionnaire for the online consultation process to give a voice to everyone in their country whose life is touched by autism spectrum disorder and would like to give their views towards making recommendations for a strategic public health plan for autism in Europe.
During October, the final report of the sub-regional meetings and strategic document will be written and participants will be consulted on the final content. The European Autism Action Conference will take place on 29th November 2010 and will include presentations on the Panel of Experts Meeting (Luxembourg 2010), as well as the two sub-regional meetings for east and west Europe. The final draft of the public heath strategic plan for ASD in Europe will be presented to a high-profile audience of policy makers and stakeholders from across Europe. The conference will also be the founding conference of the European Autism Public Health Alliance (eapha) and will be an opportunity for presenting and promoting this new entity.
Photographs from the West European sub-regional meeting