SCHS CELEBRATES WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, Mrs. Mona Abdel Karim, Director of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), has opened an art gallery for the students of Sharjah Center for Autism. SCHS is organizing this gallery at Al Qasba Canal to mark World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) organized this year under the theme ‘Assistive Technologies, Active Participation’ in the presence of a large number of SCHS officials, specialists, visitors, and journalists.
During a tour in the gallery, Mrs. Mona has confirmed the capabilities of persons with autism to innovate if they receive enough attention and care. She pointed out SCHS leading role as the first institution in UAE to offer support, advocacy, and empowerment to them under the commandment of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice President of Supreme Council for Family Affairs & Director General of SCHS, according to the best practices worldwide.
She said, “It is a common responsibility for institutes and individuals to support persons with autism as part of their social responsibility. In addition, we should always remember the vital role of parents in cooperating with specialized centers to improve the quality of service offered to their children with autism as much as possible”.
The Director of SCHS has pointed out the deep meanings of this year’s WAAD theme in order to benefit from Assistive Technology in offering the best services to students with autism and their families. She asked the community to educate itself about the proper manners and ways to deal with this segment of society.
For her part, the Director of Sharjah Center for Autism Dr. Sihaam Al-Humaimat has pointed out that the center, which SCHS established in 2002, offers services to more than 75 persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The center offers these services according to the latest trends in education, training, and rehabilitation. The center also provides training to more than 50 teachers, supervisors, and specialists.
Al-Humaimat has confirmed that marking WAAD is not restricted to organizing the art gallery. The center is going to organize a number of workshops and informative lectures during the entire month of April as well as a sports event with the participation of many students from specialized centers around the country.
On the other hand, Sharjah Center for Autism has lit several public buildings with blue color in collaboration with Sharjah Government as a gesture of subordination and back up to persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders, which is part of the celebrations of WAAD.