Father of Child with Autism Behind Bars, His Mother Not Given Home Care Benefit

* Photo: Anadolu Agency

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Canan A. is the mother of a 5.5-year-old child with autism in Denizli. She has been striving to receive home care benefit for her child.

Canan A. used to work as a clerk at Denizli Courthouse. She was discharged three years ago and her husband has been arrested on FETÖ-related charges for three years. FETÖ, or Fethullahist Terrorist Organization, is held accountable for the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

Canan A. says that her son was not born with autism, but was diagnosed with it when he was three years old. "He needs special training", mother Canan is told. Speaking to bianet, Canan A. shares what they have been going through in following words:

"My husband has been arrested for 34 months. As a mother discharged by a Statutory Decree, I am trying to hold on to life. My son is five years old and has autism. We had his report renewed in May and I learnt that we could receive home care benefit with our new report.

'Furniture at our house don't match my statement, I was told'

"I applied to the Provincial Social Welfare Center in Merkezefendi with my report. A committee came to my house 10 days after my application and told me that the furniture at my house did not match my statement. They called me three weeks later and informed me that the committee convened for me and I had to present documents indicating whether I and my arrested husband had any deposit accounts at government or private banks.

"As far as I know from my research, there were 26 bans in central Denizli and as I was told by all banks that I had to apply to them with a document, I went to the institution [welfare center] again and talked to the director.

'What is my son's fault?'

"When I made a search on this issue, I learnt that no applicant families were asked such a document. I did what other families did: I obtained the necessary documents from the Social Security Institution (SGK), Land Registry Office and Ziraat Bank. But, when I did it and wanted to give the documents to the institution, they told me that they could not accept the documents and that I did not go to banks.

'I am doing day labor'

"They did not understand it even though I had explained it to them. I wanted to see the regulation, but the director shouted at me. I forcibly submitted my documents with minutes taken down.

"But as I was discharged by a Statutory Decree and my husband is arrested, none of the procedures used for other families were not followed in our case. We do not have any assets, I do not have any income, I make a living by doing day labor and with the support of my family.

"I was receiving an aid of 480 lira (approx. 80 dollar) for a year. It was cut in June-July. My request for home care wage that I made on July 18, 2019 has been rejected. If my husband is guilty, he is paying for his crime, he should indeed do so. But, what is my son's fault?"

HDP MP Gergerlioğlu brought it into Parliament

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu brought the issue into Parliamentary agenda. Gergerlioğlu requested that mother Canan A. be given home care wage for caring for her son with autism. (EMK/SD)