JEDDAH - A two-day art exhibition to serve the cause of autistic children will be held at the Jeddah Hilton from Tuesday. "This year's exhibition is dedicated to support the Saudi Center for Autism in Jeddah," said Aboud Shami, group managing director of Impact BBDO, one of the region's top creative networks, which organizes the annual event.
"This has been done with a view to focusing on the autistic patients who deserve better concern and acknowledgement, besides directing the public and private sector's attention to the desperate need of this social group."
There are an estimated 140,000 autistic patients in Saudi Arabia, according to a recent study.
Aboud Shami said: "This initiative to support autistic patients is based on a thorough research conducted about the disease, its spread in the Kingdom, and the public awareness level, especially as we learn of the rising incidence of such cases," he added.
The Saudi Center for Autism was established on Jan. 1, 2007, with Najlaa' Halfawi as director and Soha Al-Saadi as executive programs director. The center, which has capacity for 13 patients, provides educational programs that suit each patient's requirements.
Impact BBDO had dedicated all of its sister companies -- Impact Porter Novelli, the PR agency, and Impact Proximity, the event management agency, to make the art show a success. The company organized two art exhibitions during 2000-04 and their proceeds were allocated to the Disabled Children Association in Jeddah.
