Quintana Roo Expands Autism Care Center as Requests Rise 50%

Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo — Facing a 50% increase in service requests, state officials have reopened the Southern Zone Autism Center after renovations to expand care for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa and Verónica Lezama, honorary president of the DIF Quintana Roo family services agency, led the reopening of the facility, which serves families across the southern part of the state.

The center has provided comprehensive care to more than 1,016 children and adolescents through evaluations, diagnoses, therapeutic treatments and family support. It currently has 232 registered users, and officials said rising demand made it necessary to strengthen its capacity.

The renovations represent an investment aimed at expanding development opportunities for people with autism and their families, Lezama said. Verónica Lezama said the results reflect the participation of individuals and institutions that have joined efforts to strengthen the center.

Beginning in September, the facility will gradually shift to a new tiered care model based on blocks and outcomes. Existing clinically functional groups will be maintained, while individual therapies will be reorganized into combined formats, giving priority to group practice when each patient’s condition allows.

Under the new model, groups will be formed according to age, developmental stage, communication skills, therapeutic goals, regulation and peer tolerance. New patients will be integrated gradually through small groups of two or three individuals when they require higher levels of support.

The changes aim to increase the center’s ability to respond to demand and strengthen comprehensive support for people with ASD and their families in southern Quintana Roo.