Legislator seeks to curb blatant discrimination against people with autism

Rep. Edgar Robles Rivera

By THE STAR STAFF

Rep. Edgar Robles Rivera announced over the weekend the filing of a measure in the island House of Representatives following a regrettable incident at a supermarket in the municipality of Ponce, where a young man with autism was expelled along with his aunt.

Robles, who represents the municipalities of Arecibo and Hatillo and also chairs the Consumer Affairs Committee in the lower chamber, introduced a bill entitled the “Law to Guarantee Access and Dignified Treatment for People with Functional Diversity in Private Establishments,” which seeks to strengthen existing protections and ensure dignified treatment for people with physical, sensory, mental, or developmental conditions, such as autism.

“The rights of people with disabilities cannot remain on paper,” Robles Rivera said. “They must be felt and respected in daily life.”

House Bill (HB) 840 provides for establishments that meet the requirements to obtain voluntary “Inclusive Establishment” certification. Those who fail to comply would face fines of up to $5,000, which would be used for educational campaigns and resource strengthening.

The Ponce case sparked public outrage and highlighted the need to strengthen staff education and supervision in stores to ensure inclusive and respectful treatment.

The provisions of HB 840 include mandatory annual training for all staff, including safety training, with training programs validated by specialized entities, visible signage reflecting the business’s commitment to inclusion, the designation of an internal contact to address discrimination complaints, accessible grievance mechanisms with a response within a maximum of 15 business days, and audits or random visits by the Office for the Protection and Advocacy of Persons with Disabilities.

Robles Rivera, meanwhile, has maintained constant monitoring of people with disabilities in his legislative district.

Recently, he arranged for the installation of air conditioning at Cotto Anexo Special Education School, a center that serves children and young people with disabilities or learning difficulties, ensuring an adapted and dignified environment that fosters their educational development.

According to Department of Education statistics, in 2019-2020, there were 6,600 children under the age of 21 registered as having some form of autism (736 between the ages of three and five and 5,864 between the ages of six and 21).

One in every 62 children born in Puerto Rico has autism, according to the most recent statistics, and it is estimated that there are more than 15,000 children with the condition.

“We want every family to have the peace of mind that, regardless of their circumstances, their children will receive dignified and respectful treatment everywhere,” Robles Rivera said. “This law seeks to achieve justice and take a firm step toward a more inclusive society.”

The lawmaker has promoted other historic inclusion initiatives.

For the first time in the history of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, more than 60 children, youth and adults with autism occupied seats in the House during a special session in which their achievements and contributions in education, sports, culture, and social work were recognized.