Representational photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash
Doha: The General Department of Endowments at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has launched a programme to support people with autism.
The programme which initially targets about 120 people suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will help develop their motor skill capabilities.
A motor skill is a function that involves specific movements of the body’s muscles to perform a certain task. These tasks could include walking, running or riding a bike. In order to perform this skill, the body’s nervous system, muscles and brain have to all work together.
The announcement was made in a press conference held yesterday at the headquarters of the General Department of Endowments on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day 2023 which falls on April 2.
Addressing the press conference, Director of General Department of Endowments Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Thani said that the Department is a strategic partner of Qatar Autism Society.
He announced an initiative of General Endowment Department to launch a programme to support about 120 people with ASD for developing their motor skill capabilities.
“The strategic partnership between the General Department of Endowments and the Qatar Autism Society comes with the support of the Endowment Fund for Family and Childhood, the Endowment Fund for Health Care and the Endowment Fund for Scientific and Cultural Development,” said Dr. Sheikh Khalid.
He said that the initiative aims to serve an important segment of society, people with autism spectrum disorder and to assist the Qatar Autism Society to play its role in serving and caring for them.
Dr. Sheikh Khalid appreciated the vital role played by the Qatar Autism Society, and considered the fruitful cooperation between the two sides an embodiment of the Department’s slogan, “Endowment is a community partnership”, and a clear example of the role of endowment in community development.
For his part, Vice-President of Qatar Autism Society Saad Muhammad Al Ghanim said that over 950 people with Autism Spectrum Disorder have benefited from the services provided by Qatar Autism Society.
He lauded the endowment’s influential role in the progress of the Society’s work and its success. He thanked the endowers for their contributions to the Endowment Fund for Health Care.
The headquarters of the Qatar Autism Society is located in Al Qatifiya, an area of 1,225 square metres. The facility consists of two floors, includes a swimming pool, places for organising activities, and a number of rooms used as workshops for teaching manual skills, in addition to administrative offices.
