Al Shafallah Center for Persons with Disability celebrates the World Autism Awareness Day, which falls on April 2 of each year, under the theme “Transformation.. Towards an Inclusive World of Neurodiversity”.
Executive Director of Al Shafallah Center Laalei Abualfain said in remarks on the ocasion that marking the World Autism Awareness Day is an opportunity to shed light on the strides made by Qatar in the area of care for people with autism spectrum disorder, and working to achieve more successes in integrating and caring for this important group of society.
She pointed out that this year’s theme came to confirm the need to move away from the treatment narratives for people with autism, and to focus on accepting and supporting them, ensuring their involvement and defending their rights, indicating that the new narrative enables people with autism to be fully integrated as valuable members of their families and communities.
Abualfain noted that the autism department at the center provides various educational, rehabilitative and skill services to its members based on a set of curricula that rely on scientific evidence.
She lauded the state’s attention to people with disabilities, including those with autism, as this was evident in the launch of the National Autism Plan, which aims to improve the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families, as part of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The International Autism Awareness Day was set upon the proposal of the State of Qatar, where HH Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, provided support for the campaign that called for dedicating the International Autism Awareness Day in 2007, during the 62nd United Nations General Assembly. The proposal was unanimously approved for April 2 to become the International Autism Awareness Day.
Source: Qatar News Agency
