The only recognized and valid instrument in Croatia for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders is the Observational Protocol for the Diagnosis of Autism - ADOS-2, which is the gold standard in the process of diagnosing autism spectrum disorders.
With the generous funds of the ICF Foundation, during 2021, the realization of the project "Strengthening the capacity of professionals to implement interdisciplinary services of early childhood intervention", The training of experts from the Educational Rehabilitation Team for the Early Intervention Team of the Rovinj Special Hospital for the implementation of the ADOS-2 Observation Protocol has been provided. In this way, it is possible to timely and comprehensively diagnose disorders from the spectrum of autism in the Istrian County and beyond.
Parents whose children have difficulties with social interaction and communication, which are the main determinants of autism spectrum disorders, have so far had to wait more than a year to get a queue for an assessment to confirm or dispel their suspicions. Also, because of that, they often had to travel outside Istria and often pay for the implementation of the ADOS-2 Observation Protocol.
By achieving the goal of the project, parents were given the opportunity to implement the Observation Protocol for the diagnosis of autism in the Special Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation "Martin Horvat" Rovinj - Rovigno in a short time, at the expense of HZZO.
