2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 149A - BIDA Act (§§ 3561 — 3585) › § 3567 - Adult and community life

The following programs or services shall be offered to adults with autism spectrum disorder:
(a) Housing.— The Department of Housing of Puerto Rico shall take steps as are necessary, observing state and federal laws and regulations that govern the availability of housing, so that persons with autism spectrum disorder, or the family members with whom they live, are provided with affordable housing. It shall foster the creation of assisted living programs for persons with autism spectrum disorder who can live independently or semi-independently, and of housing centers with assistance for those who need ongoing supervision and support.
The development of programs and initiatives, through multi-sector collaboration, shall be promoted for the purpose of enabling persons with autism spectrum disorder to develop, improve, and maintain the social and job-related skills and competencies they need to live in the community of their choosing with the support they require, according to the best practices used in other projects and initiatives which have proven successful in other similar contexts and settings.
(b) Community.— The Government of Puerto Rico, through any of the entities that provide services to the community and to the extent resources allow, shall implement initiatives geared toward integrating persons with autism spectrum disorder into the community. Likewise, it may require the collaboration of nonprofit or community-based entities to include the autism spectrum disorder population within their services offering, without impairing the purposes of these organizations.
(c) Sports and recreation.— The Sports and Recreation Department, together with a multi-sector collaboration, shall offer opportunities to participate in its sports and recreation programs with the necessary assistance and accommodations, to wit: summer and Christmas camps, social-skills workshops, sports clinics, special competitions and physical education adapted for persons with autism spectrum disorder.
It is hereby declared as public policy that the Government of Puerto Rico shall be responsible for creating and implementing, directly or through public or private entities, any mechanisms available to:
(1) Incorporate the proper strategies for this population when persons or entities responsible for the sports and recreation aspects are developing the curricula, plans, or programs;
(2) allow persons with autism spectrum disorder to enjoy open spaces, passive and active recreational experiences, as well as access to and contact with nature within family and community-oriented settings for their care, development, and education;
(3) guarantee access to recreational, educational, and wellness experiences according to their capabilities and interests;
(4) promote, develop, and support games and recreation, as well as physical activity and ludic sports programs to contribute to the physical wellbeing of the population with Autism and their integration to the community;
(5) raise awareness of the importance of playing in the development of children through the caregiver and teacher education programs;
(6) strengthen the development of sports and recreation professionals through courses specialized in autism spectrum disorder-related subjects that addresses the characteristics and needs of this population, and
(7) comply with the current standards thus protecting persons with autism spectrum disorder while carrying out sports and recreational activities by employing safe and adequate practices.
(d) Employment.— The Department of Labor and Human Resources shall provide persons with autism spectrum disorder with training and orientation in order to integrate and obtain a job and remain employed, thus achieving financial independence and improving their professional development. For such reason, it shall actively and effectively use the resources and specialized knowledge of the Rehabilitation Services Administration and other components of the department.
(1) Develop a wage subsidy program for employers that hire persons with an autism spectrum disorder;
(2) guarantee the participation of youths with an autism spectrum disorder in summer job programs as part of the transition process;
(3) create a talent bank of youths and persons with autism spectrum disorder who are properly trained and ready to work so they can be promoted among employers for the purpose of being hired, and
(4) offer specialized training to employers to raise awareness of the importance of integrating the population of persons with autism spectrum disorder in the workforce.
History —Sep. 4, 2012, No. 220, § 9.