April 2 · World Autism Awareness Day

On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day, AMPANS highlights the importance of moving towards a more accessible, inclusive society that respects neurological diversity. Professionals from different areas of the organisation — educational, occupational, residential and employment services — share their perspective on current challenges and progress in supporting people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

AMPANS services work from a person-centred approach, adapting supports to individual needs throughout the life cycle. The aim is to promote autonomy, social participation and wellbeing, while respecting each person’s interests, pace and life project.

From day and occupational services, the importance of providing structured and predictable environments that foster emotional security and skills development is highlighted. These spaces allow adults with autism to take part in meaningful activities and build positive social relationships, contributing to a better quality of life.

In the employment field, inclusion is recognised as a driver of innovation and cohesion within teams. Adapting the environment and individualising support enables people with autism to develop their potential with confidence and autonomy. Diversity therefore becomes an opportunity to build more human and efficient organisations.

In education and early detection, professionals highlight significant progress in identifying diverse profiles within the autism spectrum. Increasingly, more women, adolescents and people with less visible support needs are being diagnosed, reflecting a better understanding of the complexity of ASD. Nevertheless, challenges remain, such as waiting lists, lack of specialised professionals and the cost of therapies.

In residential and community services, there is a clear need to strengthen specialised supports in health, housing and social participation. Gaps between needs and available resources still exist, particularly during key life transitions such as moving from school to adult life or accessing employment.

Teams also emphasise the importance of ethics in support processes. Ethical dilemmas often arise regarding the balance between autonomy and protection or shared decision-making with families. These issues are addressed through professional reflection spaces, supervision and the support of the ethics committee.

A clear example of the positive impact of personalised support is the case of a person with ASD who had stopped participating in community activities due to anxiety caused by the environment. Through adjustments in communication, planning and gradual changes, the person regained confidence and was able to choose and enjoy these spaces again with greater autonomy and wellbeing.

Conclusions and next steps

In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding ASD and in developing more specialised, person-centred services. Identification of diverse profiles has improved, models of educational and employment inclusion have expanded, and progress has been made in promoting independent living and community participation.

However, further work is still needed to:

• reduce waiting lists and guarantee universal access to diagnosis and early intervention
• improve coordination between education, health and social systems
• expand support resources for families
• promote truly inclusive work environments
• ensure cognitive accessibility and reasonable adjustments in all areas of life
• promote applied research and innovation in support methodologies

The challenge is to continue moving towards a society that does not focus on adapting the person, but on transforming environments so they are accessible to everyone.

Interviews

Cristina Llohis · Head of Day Services

Cristina Llohis works in the development of day and occupational services that promote autonomy and wellbeing for adults with autism through structured and meaningful environments.

What is the role of day and occupational services in the quality of life of people with autism?
They play a key role by providing structured, predictable and safe environments where each person can develop skills and take part in meaningful daily activities. These services contribute to wellbeing, autonomy and social participation, always respecting individual pace and preferences.

What impact does the service have on daily life?
The service becomes a safe space where the person feels recognised and in control of themselves and their environment. Stable routines and meaningful activities help structure daily life, foster relationships and develop skills, contributing to better quality of life.

How do you work to respect each person’s interests and preferences?
Through active listening and observation, considering each person’s individuality and family environment. This allows methodologies to be adapted and ensures the person actively participates in their life project and decision-making as far as possible.

Marta Milián · EMS Director

Marta Milián promotes inclusive employment for people with disabilities, fostering accessible and respectful work environments.

What is most important when supporting a person with autism in the workplace?
Individualised support is essential. Listening and understanding the person is key. The environment and tasks must be adapted to be clear and predictable, providing the necessary support so the person can work with confidence, autonomy and wellbeing.

What does diversity bring to work teams?
It brings different perspectives and approaches to tasks, as well as strong focus and commitment. Inclusion enriches teams, encourages respect and cooperation, and helps create more human and innovative workplaces.

What message would you give to companies that want to be more inclusive?
Take the step. Inclusion is not only social responsibility, it is also a smart way to build stronger and more future-ready teams. Often, small adjustments can create great opportunities and allow everyone to contribute their potential.

Janeta Camps · Head of Residential and Housing Services

Janeta Camps promotes supported housing and community inclusion models that foster independent living and social participation for people with ASD.

In which areas do you see the greatest mismatch between needs and available resources?
The main gaps are found in the lack of specialised resources in health and community services, as well as difficulties in ensuring flexible supports that allow real participation in everyday life. There are also gaps in family support, especially during key life transitions. In education and employment, there is still a gap between the potential of people with ASD and real inclusion opportunities.

What structural barriers still hinder full inclusion?
There is a lack of sustained resources, fragmentation of services and insufficiently adapted environments. Too often the focus is still on adapting the person rather than ensuring accessibility and adjustments in the environment.

What changes are needed to move towards a more inclusive society?
Guaranteeing support throughout life, improving coordination between systems, ensuring cognitive accessibility and strengthening professional training. It is also important to promote active participation of people with ASD and their families in policy design.

In which areas can AMPANS continue to lead or innovate?
In person-centred models, transition processes into adult life, supported housing and real community inclusion. Also in professional training, partnerships with companies and applied research.

Professional team · Ethical reflection

AMPANS teams work from an ethical perspective that places dignity and rights at the centre.

What ethical dilemmas arise most often in support processes and how are they addressed?
Situations often arise related to balancing autonomy and protection or shared decision-making with families. These dilemmas are addressed through professional reflection spaces, supervision and the support of the ethics committee.

Describe a situation where you clearly saw the positive impact of good support
A person with ASD had stopped participating in community activities because the environment caused anxiety. Through adjustments in planning, communication and supports, the person regained confidence and was able to choose and enjoy these spaces again with autonomy and wellbeing.

Alba Cortina · Head of Special Education Services

Alba Cortina works on early detection and the development of inclusive education models that support the holistic development of children with ASD.

What current challenges do you identify in early detection of ASD?
Further progress is needed in research and early detection to provide rigorous differential diagnoses and ensure universal access to evidence-based therapies. Improving support during youth and adulthood is also key to preventing social exclusion.

How has the profile of people receiving diagnosis changed in recent years?
More adolescents, adults and women are now being diagnosed, profiles that were often previously overlooked. More people with good cognitive skills are being identified, reflecting a better understanding of autism as a broad and diverse spectrum.

Which research lines are strategic for the future?
Research into neurobiological and genetic bases, development of biomarkers for early diagnosis, use of virtual environments for social skills training and advancement of inclusive education methodologies. It is also essential to promote quality of life studies from a biopsychosocial perspective.

What structural gaps currently exist in the territory?
Waiting lists persist, there is a shortage of specialised professionals and difficulties accessing therapies due to economic reasons. There are also limited resources for the transition to adult life, increasing the risk of social exclusion. Fragmentation of services complicates support pathways for people with ASD and their families.

World Autism Awareness Day reminds us that inclusion is not only a goal but an ongoing process of social transformation. In recent years, progress has been made in early detection, in understanding diverse autism profiles and in developing more specialised, person-centred services. Models promoting autonomy, community participation and access to employment have also been strengthened.

Despite this progress, inequalities in access to resources, lack of coordination between systems and social barriers still limit full participation of people with ASD in all areas of life. The challenge is to continue advancing towards more accessible and flexible environments that respect diversity, placing rights, capabilities and each person’s life project at the centre.

The future requires strengthening research, ensuring lifelong support, listening to people with ASD and their families, and promoting collaboration between public administrations, organisations and companies. Only then will it be possible to build a society that understands diversity as an opportunity and ensures that everyone can develop their potential with dignity and equal opportunities.