Researchers: Uri Shwed¹, Nadav Davidovitch ¹

Background: The expected increase in the prevalence of autistic adults who frequently and comprehensively use healthcare services demand a systemic planning. Nevertheless, no study had been conducted on the needs and barriers to healthcare services of autistic adults in Israel.

Objectives: To determine the needs of autistic adults in Israel and their barriers to healthcare services.

Method: Mixed method participatory research. We conducted in-depth interviews with adults with autism, their families, and professionals, and a survey among adults with autism and their families.

Findings: The Israeli healthcare system is not accessible for autistic adults’ distinct cognitive characteristics which include communicative differences, need of certainty and sensory in\sensitivities. The lack of knowledge on autism among professionals including psychiatrists is an additional barrier. As autism is excluded from the mental health services and diagnosis of autism in adults is not provided publicly, autistic adults are not entitled for rehabilitation services in adulthood, which are greatly needed. These barriers have implications on autistic adults’ health and the on healthcare system.

Conclusions: There is no long-term planning for the increasing needs of autistic adults. Current barriers to healthcare services include inaccessibility for the autistic cognitive uniqueness, lack of knowledge among professionals and exclusion of autism from mental health services. These barriers have implication on autistic adults and the healthcare system.

Recommendations: 1) Enactment of accessibility regulations for healthcare services suitable for autistic adults.
2) Inclusion of the diagnosis of autism under the mental health reform services and include the diagnosis of autism in the public health basket.
3) Expand the entitlement for rehabilitation services beyond the age of 18.
4) Establish and implement a training program on autism.

Research end date: 03/2021