Israel Considers Revising Autism Support Model Amid Fivefold Increase in Diagnosed Children
The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Israel has surged dramatically, rising from 10,000 to 50,000 over the past decade, according to National Insurance Institute data. This increase, which outpaces population growth, has sparked a government-wide discussion involving the Ministries of Finance, Health, and National Insurance about how to best support these children and their families. In 2023, 68,000 children were reported on the spectrum, representing 0.7% of the population and about 2% of all children, with the youngest age groups nearing a 3% diagnosis rate.
The current system grants families of diagnosed children a disability allowance of 3,820 shekels per month, but the rapid rise in diagnoses has placed heavy demands on healthcare and education services. Parents often struggle to access required therapies due to shortages of public sector therapists, and special education enrollment has increased significantly, straining resources for teachers and caregivers.
The surge in diagnoses is attributed to greater awareness, reduced stigma, earlier screening, and changes in diagnostic criteria introduced in 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association's DSM, which broadened the autism spectrum definition to include higher-functioning individuals. Israel’s generous benefits, which do not differentiate by functional level, contrast with many countries where support is tied to severity.
A Health Ministry committee is currently reviewing the autism support framework and is expected to propose a tiered system based on functional ability rather than a binary diagnosis. This approach could initially affect healthcare services and potentially extend to education and social benefits. Advocacy groups like Elot express concern that such changes might reduce support for higher-functioning children despite their complex needs. They emphasize the urgent need to expand public healthcare and education resources before altering benefit eligibility.
Elot’s legal director, Rotem Isaac, stressed that true efficiency lies in providing early interventions to improve long-term integration, rather than simply cutting allowances. The committee’s draft report is anticipated in the coming months for public comment before final recommendations are made.
