Autism centre closing down in Abu Dhabi
Founder of Abu Dhabi facility cites financial and personal reasons for shutting operations
Founder cites financial troubles and personal reasons for shutting facility which has 45 children, 40 staff |
One of the first autism centres to open in Abu Dhabi is closing down this June, leaving parents and children at the facility shocked and devastated.
Gulf Autism Centre, which has been operating in Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen area since 2005, informed the parents of its 45 students in April that the centre will close on June 22 for good. The centre also has around 40 staff members who will need to find new jobs.
Speaking to Gulf News, the founder of the facility cited personal and financial reasons for the closure. “I opened this centre when there was almost nothing for children with autism in Abu Dhabi. Closing it has been one of the most difficult decisions that I have had to make,” said Mariam Al Mazroui, the founder of Gulf Autism Centre.
Challenges
Al Mazroui said there were a number of reasons for the closure but it came down to two main points for her. Firstly, to spend more time with her 23-year-old son, Ahmad, who has autism and has grown out of the programmes available at the centre and secondly, financial challenges. She said there were also other personal reasons that she could not share.
Al Mazroui founded Gulf Autism Centre 13 years ago due to lack of facilities for her son and other people with autism in Abu Dhabi. She said today she faces the same challenge as she did when her son was a child, prompting her to try and focus on developing a programme for him. The centre has also been facing financial difficulties.
According to Al Mazroui, in the recent years, she has spent between Dh200,000 and Dh300,000 of her own money every year to keep the centre going. The centre’s management also confirmed that there were at least 12 students, out of a total of 45, who had not been able to pay their fees this year.
Gulf News reported the centre’s financial troubles last May as its management pleaded for the public to sponsor children whose families could not afford to pay the tuition fees. Al Mazroui renewed her pleas for people to support those families so their children can continue receiving the education and support that they require elsewhere.
Parents that Gulf News spoke with said they were devastated to hear the news. They also feared that they would not find a new facility for their children with such little late notice.
“I was so shocked when we first found out...My daughter has been at this centre for 10 years and she loves the staff here,” said Dima Radi, mother of a 12-yearold girl with autism.
I opened this centre when there was almost nothing for children with autism in Abu Dhabi. Closing it has been one of the most difficult decisions that I have had to make.” Mariam Al Mazroui | Founder of Gulf Autism Centre