An additional 300 children and adolescents will be included in the "Habilitation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders" program, said the Mayor of Tbilisi at today`s meeting of the capital`s government.

"Within the framework of "Habilitation Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders" of the Municipal Department of Health and Social Services, complex therapy sessions designed by a multidisciplinary team will be funded for 2,700 children and adolescents starting in April.

The program`s budget is approximately 13,000,000 GEL and 20 sessions of at least one hour, determined by an individual plan tailored to the child and adolescent, are funded. To date, the program is served by 15 centers. At the time of the program`s launch in July 2015, two service providers and 325 children were involved in the program, and the budget was approximately 500,000 GEL. The amount of funding per beneficiary also increased.

In addition, within the framework of the City Hall program, therapeutic sessions were initially funded only for children aged 2 to 14. As a result of consultations with specialists in the field and representatives of relevant associations, the City Hall increased the age of adolescents involved in the program to 18 years in 2018", - said Kakha Kaladze.