The Mouvement Réformateur welcomes the decision taken by the Council of Ministers on the reimbursement of speech therapy sessions for all children, regardless of their disability, while stressing that it sees this as a first step.
This measure, championed notably by Minister David Clarinval, MR group leader Benoit Piedboeuf and federal MP Caroline Taquin, demonstrates the MR's steady commitment to access to care for all children, regardless of their intelligence quotient.
The agreement reached within the government will ensure that, until 30 June 2025, all children, whatever their IQ, will have access to Inami coverage for mono-disciplinary speech therapy sessions. From 1 July 2025, the needs of children with an IQ below 70 will be subject to a multidisciplinary analysis at an Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre (ORC).
“This has been expected for years! We are pleased that this issue is moving in the right direction, thanks to Minister Clarinval's initiative. This is a significant first step. However, we are calling for the complete removal of any reference to an IQ threshold. That is the whole point of our bill, tabled two weeks ago, which aims to remove the arbitrary condition of the absence of an intelligence disorder. This would allow appropriate support for patients with language disorders, particularly those with Down's syndrome or autism. We will therefore continue to demand this removal as well as an adaptation of the legislation,” explain Caroline Taquin and Benoit Piedboeuf.
The MR further stresses that this decision is a step in the right direction and highlights the positive impact of these sessions on patients, who, thanks to professional support, are given a space in which they can be supported and encouraged in their efforts, boosting self-esteem and motivation to take part in activities. This allows them to take part in structured activities and learn to adapt to different social situations.