The Autism Parents Platform’s official headquarters in Qatar was inaugurated at The Pearl Island Monday, in the presence of HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi, and with the support of the United Development Company.
The headquarters, the first of its kind in the country as an ‘Autism community home’ accredited by the IBCCES organisation, serves as an important milestone in supporting and empowering individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their parents by providing specialised services within an inclusive and safe environment that promotes community integration.
The opening of the headquarters comes as part of the Ministry of Social Development and Family’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the private sector and supporting national initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of life for all segments of society, particularly people with disabilities.
During the opening ceremony, HE al-Nuaimi emphasised the importance of institutional co-operation in enhancing services provided to people with autism, praising the efforts of the Autism Parents Platform in providing psychological and social support to families and providing quality programmes for children with autism. For her part, Hamda al-Hitmi, the founder of the platform, said that the opening of the headquarters reflects the nation’s commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families, noting that the idea for establishing the platform was initiated five years ago out of the need for safe, community-based spaces for children with autism.
Over the past few years, the platform has organised awareness workshops and activities to enhance the community’s understanding of autism, in addition to launching psychological and educational support programs targeting mothers and families, she stated. Chairman of the Autism Parents Platform Saleh al-Khulaifi emphasised that the opening of this headquarters embodies the fruit of community and humanitarian co-operation, hoping that it will serve as a model for supporting and accommodating individuals with autism across the region.
The opening ceremony was attended by a number of officials and representatives of supporting organisations, along with families of individuals with autism. The event received support from a number of national and private entities and institutions.
