JEDDAH: To help the growing number of autistic children in the Arab world, the first scientific forum of autism centers in the Arab world began on Sunday night at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The event — entitled “Autism, Reality and Future” — was held under the support of Prince Talal, president of the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), and was organized by the Al-Faisalya Women Welfare Society and the Jeddah Autism Center.
The forum, which marks the Jeddah Autism Center’s 15th anniversary, aims to shed light on the latest medical, educational and communicational developments in the autism care.
Participants of Sunday’s opening session were given an insight into the pioneering experiences of autistic treatment services in the Arab world. The event began with a reading of the Qur’an by an autistic child from the Jeddah Autism Center. A parade by autistic children followed.
The event is being officially sponsored by AGFUND, a nonprofit organization established in 1980 by Prince Talal.
“This forum, which aims to develop Arab cooperation in the field of autism, is fully consistent with AGFUND’s efforts to promote NGOs in the field of development and is looking to develop a better future for autistic children in the Arab world,” said Prince Turki bin Talal, who opened the event on behalf of Prince Talal.
Dr. Paul Shattock, director of the World Autism Organization, addressed the forum and praised the Kingdom’s efforts to help children who suffer from the disorder. He also reviewed the idea of the emergence of an organization to deal with the issue.
Yousuf Al-Othaimeen, minister of social affairs, said the Kingdom has provided special care to people with disabilities, and established daycare centers for disabled people of both sexes.
Princess Fahda bint Saud, director of the Al-Faisalya Women Welfare Society, pointed out that the forum was being held in the vicinity of Islam’s holiest city, Makkah. She added that the event was being attended by representatives from 18 Arab and three European countries who have devoted themselves to helping autistic children.
“The number of autistic children is increasing under a severe lack of services, training, knowledge and funding, which have prompted the organizers to take steps to find solutions to these problems and to benefit from each other’s experiences,” she added.
The meeting ended with a PowerPoint presentation on the services some Arab centers provide to autistic children. This was followed with Prince Turki honoring the forum’s sponsors and those who have supported the Jeddah Autism Center since its inception 15 years ago. The opening ceremony will be followed by two days of workshops.
