Society keen to support and care for autistic people: Al-Saad
World Autism Organization marks World Autism Day
KUWAIT CITY, April 6: Chairperson of the Kuwait Autism Society and the Kuwait Autism Center Foundation, Dr Samira Al-Saad, said the society and the center are keen to support and care for the people with autism, and achieving community partnership between state institutions and the Kuwait Autism Center, which is an integrated model in care and development of skills for all ages and all citizens and residents, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Dr Samira Al-Saad, who is also the President of the World Autism Organization ‘WAO’, said in a press statement, on the occasion of World Autism Day, “Fifteen years have passed since the United Nations declared April 2 a World Day for Autism, with a Gulf initiative raised by the Gulf Autism League in 2007, when the world began celebrating this day and attract attention to autism throughout April -- the Autism Awareness Month.
She added, “Every year, the centers concerned with the care of our children, students with autism, compete to show their capabilities and spread awareness of their qualities and the support and care they need to help them adapt to society.”
She stated: “To achieve the principle of cooperation between civil society institutions and care centers in Kuwait, since the establishment of the Kuwaiti Autism Society in 2006, one of its goals has been to support the activities of the Kuwait Autism Center, which was established in 1994 as the first educational center specializing in autism disability and played a big role in expanding the circle of care and training for colleagues in the profession in the Arab Gulf states, whose effects are evident on our students.
“It is a center that can be replicated as an integrated model in caring and developing skills for all age groups and for all citizens and residents of the beloved land of Kuwait,” she said.
Dr. Al-Saad went on to say, “We celebrate this year in the midst of the Corona pandemic, which required concerted efforts of all centers to provide care and educational programs in accordance with health requirements, and to confirm the principle of social distancing, as the Society launched a consultant initiative, which is an application that helps families provide educational and behavioral advice in their homes during periods of lockdown and the closure of many regular centers and places.”
She added: “The Society also introduced
various activities during this period, including organizing a virtual conference in cooperation with the Kuwait Autism Center, providing specialized lectures on several topics, opening the door for discussion between specialists and the families of people with autism, and organizing a meetings for different families from inside and outside Kuwait through the
Zoom application to shed light on different topics, and the transfer of experiences between families about how families deal during this pandemic.”
Dr. Al-Saad added, a specialized seminar and initiative of a group of dentists in Kuwait will be organized, hosted by the consultant Dr. Robert Nassif of the United States of America on World Autism Day to shed light on
the latest developments in care.
She indicated that an introductory contest will also be organized on the Q8autism Center on Instagram providing information and services it contains that help professionals and parents to benefit from lectures, publications, or specialized consultations in various fields that help the sufferer adapt to society.
Dr. Al-Saad expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad for their generous care for their children from the special groups, praying to God Almighty to protect Kuwait from all harm and to perpetuate the blessing of security, safety and lasting prosperity.