[Somatic care and autism: removal of barriers to reducing inequalities]

Autism is a complex chronic disease that frequently results in a serious situation of inequalities in access to somatic care. The links and interactions between the different levels of vulnerability (somatic, psychological and social) associated with autism requires the deployment of joint and concerted action bearing equally on the improvement of the quality of access to care and on the coordination of the patient's trajectory in the health system. Following the public hearing held in 2008 by the High Authority on Health on the theme of access to care for people with disability, this article presents the existing barriers and suggests clinical and organizational facilitators. The recommendations focus on improving the knowledge-base and scientific research on the subject, the evaluation and development of parental and professional skills and know-how, and the conditions necessary for reducing inequalities in access to healthcare.