Unlike most Spaniards right now, autistic people are legally entitled to go for walks, but the government only specified this a week after declaring its state of emergency, and both police and civilians are often unaware of the situation
MADRID - For Susana Cristo and other parents of autistic children, Spain’s strict coronavirus lockdown is proving especially harrowing and has led to insults, harassment and even fines.
Physical stimulus is vital for the wellbeing and cognitive development of people with autism, who struggle to grasp symbolic and imaginary concepts. Spain has reported more than 17,000 coronavirus deaths, one of the highest fatality rates in the world.Susana Cristo Anzola and her daughter Olivia, a 4-year-old on the autism spectrum, go back to the confinement of their home during the lockdown amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Madrid, Spain, April 9, 2020. Picture taken April 9, 2020. REUTERS/Susana Vera
Spain’s Autism Confederation launched a platform on March 26 where autistic people, their relatives and carers can report incidents arising from the state of emergency. Thanks to in-person therapy, Olivia went from struggling to communicate with signs to speaking her first words, and from chronic disordered sleep to sleeping 10 hours every night.“This confinement is ruining the fruit of years of work, therapy, effort and personal resources,” said Cristo.
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