Autism as a Disability (from the Lawyer’s Perspective)

Abstract

Autism is a complex neurological disorder, one of the most important developmental disorders. The life and functioning of a person with the autism spectrum is very complex and difficult, and the psychological burden of the whole family is very high. The clinical picture is very complicated and its origins are unknown. People with autism differ from each other in both the level of intelligence and the extent of the disorder. Scientific research has proven that despite the similarities among people with autism spectrum there are huge differences between these people. Autism as a pervasive development disorder was introduced in Polish law on 01/01/2010 – marked with the symbol 12-C. Disability in Polish law does not have one universally applicable definition. The large number and variety of legal acts concerning people with disabilities causes information chaos, making it difficult to identify instruments for the effective enforcement of such rights. Autism as a pervasive developmental disorder disturbing the functioning of the whole organism to a large extent, is a severe disability. Specialists diagnosing the disease in most cases include it in the deepest, i.e. significant degree of disability.