Damascus-Sana
According to the World Health Organization, one out of every 160 children around the world suffers from autism spectrum disorder, and on World Autism Day, which falls on April 2, calls are renewed for taking broader measures to make societies more supportive of the afflicted and provide them with fair opportunities in various fields and combat stigma and discrimination against them.
In the absence of an accurate statistics showing the prevalence of autism locally, the global percentage remains the indicator in Syria, where the Syrian Organization for Persons with Disabilities continues hopes to provide early detection services for disorders through its specialized center in Damascus. These services are available to every family that notes the existence of an unspecified problem with its child, especially those related to With indicators of communication and the repetition of stereotyped movements, according to a statement of the organization, SANA obtained a copy.
The organization clarified in its statement that the diagnosis of any child's condition is made by a team that includes psychological, neurological, auditory and intellectual development specializations, and based on their evaluation, cases are accepted according to the organization's absorptive capacity, and an educational plan is developed for each child that includes an educational educational program within special classes and a psychomotor therapy program.
Amal's services also include support activities such as sports and arts to uncover talents in some children, whether in drawing, sports or theater acting, as the organization recorded success stories for children from the Autism Center who participated in plastic art exhibitions and theatrical performances, as well as services related to training the child's family on how to deal with him and rehabilitate him at home. And training services for employees of other public centers concerned with autism.
While the organization recommends the necessity of following the child's natural growth line from the first months and noting any change in his movement or social behavior, especially indicators of communication with the environment, eye contact, changing facial and body expressions, and the use of language, mentioning some indicators that may require a specialist consultation, including delayed speech and the child's tendency to play Typical or not at all.
The organization aims to receive children up to the age of 14 years, while the autism center currently receives children under ten years old, according to the organization’s statement, which shows preparation for this and developed an appropriate methodology, confirming that the center since 2006 until today has witnessed a great development in terms of tests to assess the condition and the rehabilitation plan that has become more comprehensive with Entering the artistic side, such as drama, painting, and therapy for the psychomotor.
In terms of numbers, by 2020, Amal provided rehabilitation services to about 214 children in the autism center’s classes and rehabilitation services for 224 children through the system of individual sessions at the Autism Center and psychomotor therapy services for one hundred and three children.
Among its success stories is the play “Wajan”, which was presented by 19 children from the Autism Center, and it was shown in Damascus, Lattakia, Tartous and Homs, and was attended by more than three thousand spectators.
Inas Svan
