Sharjah24: To coincide with World Autism Day on April 2nd, and with over 20 years since the opening of the Sharjah Autism Center (SAC), which is affiliated with the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), the center is launching its annual awareness campaign for autism spectrum disorder under the slogan "Transforming towards an inclusive world for neurodiversity for everyone".
The campaign aims to raise public awareness about autism spectrum disorder and equip the center's staff with the latest practices used with people with autism spectrum disorder. It also seeks to understand diagnostic and early detection methods from a medical perspective.
Additionally, the campaign aims to raise awareness about medical tests and supportive analyses for diagnosis, accompanying disorders, similar disabilities to the disorder, therapeutic drugs, and to raise the community's level of awareness towards autism spectrum disorder. It also aims to enhance partnership and cooperation with hospitals in the diagnostic process, and exchange experiences among centers and specialists.
In her statement, Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), affirmed that the city is the first institution to provide specialised services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United Arab Emirates. This was in 1994-1995 through the establishment of a branch department in the Institute for Intellectual Development (formerly) and currently, "Al Wafa School for Capacity Development," which accommodated eight cases. In February 2002, the Sharjah Autism Center was established and inaugurated to provide suitable educational and therapeutic services for children and youth with ASD and their families, starting from the age of five. The center also includes a department dedicated to youth with ASD that was opened in 2007 to continue developing and expanding its services to include teenagers and young adults with ASD.
Her Excellency added: The developments in the field of ASD are numerous, and continuous training must be provided to keep up with them. Activating the role of families and the community in this field contributes significantly to achieving the goals of this year's theme and highlighting the contributions of individuals with ASD in their homes, work, arts, and various aspects of life.
The Chairperson of the city emphasised the center's pursuit since its establishment to spread awareness of the ASD, focus on inclusion and advocating for their rights, and confront the challenges that the social environment may overlook. The center also works towards improving the quality of life of individuals with ASD in harmony with the global trend of highlighting the latent aspects of individuals with ASD, focusing on their abilities and potential contributions in various social aspects, and not just focusing on their therapeutic and educational aspects.
Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi concluded by highlighting the importance of community awareness, collaboration, and support in the efforts towards achieving inclusive societies for individuals with ASD.
Dr. Siham Al Humaimat, the director of Sharjah Autism Center, stated that the center's establishment more than twenty years ago marked a significant breakthrough in providing specialised services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and added a new dimension to Sharjah's human services sector, which has been serving individuals with disabilities since 1979.
The center employs 47 professionals, including teachers, psychological specialists, educational supervisors, and administrators who hold specialized degrees in the field of special education, psychology, and trainers following the latest practices in the field of ASD.
The center's capacity is 95 students distributed among three sections, the main branch in the Al Sharqan area, a youth center section in Al Yarmouk, and ASD classes at Al Ramla School, which includes 14 training classes with an average of 6 students per class. The center also provides a functional therapy room, speech and language therapy room, sports room, psychological services room, and a nursing room. Sharjah Autism Center offers its services to all individuals with ASD from the age of 5 to 16 years.
Dr. Siham emphasised that the center's success would not have been possible without the wise leadership and guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the head of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, who is keen on direct follow-up and the establishment of new sections and services that keep pace with the best practices.
Furthermore, she added that the past twenty years since the center's establishment represent a significant achievement, as the center has provided many services and support to children, families, and the community, and contributed significantly to raising awareness about the importance of understanding ASD and supporting individuals with ASD.
The center has organised a series of awareness events for its campaign "Towards an Inclusive World for Neurodiversity". The festivities began on Thursday, April 6th with an exhibition titled "20 Years of Progress and Success" featuring works by students with autism spectrum disorder at the Zahia Mall. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Mohammed Yousif Al-Hammadi, Assistant Professor at the College of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Sharjah, founder and chairman of the board of the Emirates Fine Arts Society. Mona Abdul Karim Al-Yafei, Director of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, city employees, and parents, attended the event. The center will continue its events throughout April, including a dialogue session entitled "Diagnosis from a Medical-Educational Perspective" in partnership with the Sharjah University Hospital, as well as an educational materials exhibition and a student sports festival involving several centers.
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