Samar Yahya - Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — A two-week training program for newly established autism centers in Islamic and Arab countries funded by the Islamic Development Bank kicked off on Sunday at the Jeddah Autism Center.

Director of the Kuwait Autism Center Dr. Samira Al-Saad, also head of the Gulf Autism Association and vice president of the World Autism Organization, inaugurated the opening session of the program that was held under the patronage of Princess Fahdah bint Saud, president of Al-Faisalya Women Welfare Society.

The event hosted a wide group of specialists, experts and academic professors from diverse autism fields.

The training program was in response to many calls from Arab and Islamic countries lacking specialized autism services, people working to establish autism centers and associations looking to exchange cooperation and expertise to unify Arab and Islamic efforts in this field.

Princess Fahdah responded to these calls while the Islamic Development Bank funded the program as part of its framework and efforts to support economic development and social progress in member states and other Islamic communities.

The training includes an integrated educational program covering autism center management, learning about educational programs, technical and scientific strategies that aim to build the capacity of newly established Arab and Islamic autism centers and the provision of essential information for establishing autism centers.

The program hosts 23 participants from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco and Pakistan.

Many government institutions and private companies led by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Casablanca Hospitality and Tourism Services, Royal Hotel, Rosewood Corniche Hotel and Al-Bilad Hotel are supporting the program.