RIYADH, 13 October — Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ali Al-Namla will inaugurate today a four-day scientific symposium on autism, a mental illness that affects children and prevents them from communicating with other people. It is the second such symposium to be held here. The event is being organized under the auspices of the Mother of Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Autism Center in Riyadh. Distinguished speakers from the Kingdom and abroad will address major topics, including diagnosis, causes and treatment of autism. The keynote speaker will be Professor Paul Shattock of the University of Sunderland.