The urgency of an autism policy roadmap

In a Congress often pulled in many directions, timing matters. There are windows for reform that open briefly – then close under the weight of crises, elections and politics. The proposed national plan of action for autism, recently passed in the Senate, is one such window. It must not be missed.

At its core, the bill recognizes what many Filipino families already live with daily: autism is not a niche issue. It is a systems issue. It touches health care, education, employment and social protection. It demands coordination across national agencies and local government units, from early screening to lifelong support.

The bill’s emphasis on a coordinated, measurable and evolving national plan is its strongest feature. It moves us away from piecemeal programs toward a structured roadmap – one that includes early detection, intervention, inclusive education and employment pathways.

But let us be clear: this is not just about autism. It is about building a framework that can – and must – eventually serve all persons with disabilities. Autism, by sheer numbers and complexity, is simply where the urgency is most visible. If we get this right, we create a template for broader disability reform. If we get it wrong, we risk reinforcing the same fragmented system that families have struggled with for decades.

As a mother to an adult on the autism spectrum, I have seen both the promise and the gaps. Diagnosis remains uneven and often delayed. Services clustered in urban centers leave entire provinces underserved. Families shoulder the cost – financial, emotional and logistical – of navigating systems that do not speak to each other. The bill acknowledges these gaps and attempts to bridge them through inter-agency coordination and local implementation. That must be protected and strengthened.

There is one area that requires careful reconsideration: the language around self-identification. While identity and dignity must always be respected, autism is, first and foremost, a clinical diagnosis grounded in established standards such as the WHO’s ICD and the US-specific DSM frameworks. Access to services, protections and data-driven planning depends on diagnostic clarity. Blurring this line risks undermining both service delivery and public trust. We can affirm identity without compromising the integrity of systems that families rely on.

Equally important is resisting the temptation to reduce reform to allowances. Financial support has its place, especially for the most vulnerable. But what families need more urgently are reliable, accessible and quality services – early identification in barangay health centers, trained professionals across regions, inclusive schools with relevant accommodations and employment systems that recognize ability. Universal, well-designed services create dignity at scale. Allowances, on their own, do not.

This bill is not perfect. No landmark policy ever is. But it is necessary. It lays the groundwork for something we have long lacked: direction.

Congress must act NOW, while there is still space to do so thoughtfully. Amend where needed. Strengthen safeguards. Clarify definitions. But pass a version that moves us forward.

Because for families like mine, and for countless others across the country, the question has never been whether change is needed. It is how long we can wait for it. Beneath all policy debates is a life already in motion, growing older, still hoping the system will catch up.

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Mona Magno-Veluz is the national spokesperson of the Autism Society Philippines and has served on the TikTok Safety Advisory Council for Asia Pacific (2023-2025).