QF signs agreement to promote autism plan

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF),the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) and Qatar Autism FamiliesAssociation (QAFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)advancing the Qatar National Autism Plan. The MoU intends to provide socially inclusive opportunities for thosewith autism and their families at QF facilities, particularly sports andleisure activities.The agreement was signed by Machaille al-Naimi, president, Community Development, QF, and Fatima al-Sulaiti, chair, QAFA. Also present was Sultana Afdhal, acting CEO of WISH.“We have been working with QAFA for some time now, particularly over thesummer months when we hosted a number of hugely popular activitiesinitiated by WISH,” al-Naimi said.“The signing of this MoU is the culmination of that work and providesthe framework for these and other events to continue on a year-roundbasis, providing much needed opportunities for inclusive sports andleisure participation.”WISH, in partnership with Qatar Foundation’s Community Development,introduced a number of activities, primarily for QAFA, during 2017 toaddress the growing need for social and sports facilities to be madeavailable to children with autism. These included swimming classes,horse riding lessons, and special football sessions with coaches fromthe Liverpool Football Club Foundation.  Beyond sports and leisure activities, the agreement also provides anopportunity for WISH and QAFA to collaborate towards the advancement ofautism spectrum disorder research in Qatar.  “We are keen to collaborate in a number of important areas beyond thesports and leisure initiatives that have already been initiated,including lectures and workshops, research awareness through communityoutreach events, and conducting studies to capture families’ experienceswith national healthcare services,” Afdhal said.“We are delighted and grateful that Qatar Foundation is opening up itsrecreation facilities for our families so that children, as well adults,with autism and other complex needs, can enjoy the health benefits ofsports activities all year round. The summer activities organised byWISH were a great way to integrate children with autism into activitiesthat they are often marginalised from, in a free and interactivelearning environment,” al-Sulaiti noted.