Dubai: Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General, Expo 2020 Dubai, visited the new building of Dubai Autism Center (DAC) in Al Garhoud, meeting students and programme heads as she toured the state-of-the-art facility.

Her Excellency was briefed on DAC’s operations as she visited classrooms and clinics and met officials in charge of the educational, therapeutic assessment and rehabilitation programmes.

Underlining the importance of cooperation with all those involved in rehabilitating People of Determination, Her Excellency praised the centre’s educational role and its success in raising awareness of issues facing individuals with autism, their families and caregivers.

HE Reem Al Hashimy said: “In line with our leadership’s vision, we aim to host an inclusive Expo – an Expo for all. We have dedicated four respite rooms across the Expo 2020 Dubai site to care for those visitors on the autistic spectrum or prone to sensory overload. Dubai Autism Center will design those rooms as part of our drive to create an Expo that is accessible to everyone.”

Mohammed Al Emadi, Director General and Board Member of DAC, said: “The visit of Her Excellency has special significance during the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’ as we work towards ensuring equal rights for people of determination by removing any form of discrimination or segregation based on ability.”In 2017, DAC moved to its new 91,000 square feet (8,500sqm) building, allowing it to more than quadruple its capacity from 54 students to 238.

The new facilities include 34 classrooms, 22 movement therapy rooms, 18 speech therapy rooms, three sensory integration rooms, plus a number of laboratories, facilities and clinics – all designed to provide a top-class educational environment for individuals with autism.

Autism affects one in 59 children, according to figures from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A common growth disorder, symptoms typically appear during the first three years of a child’s life and continue as they grow, affecting the individual’s social life and their ability to communicate with others. It can also lead to isolation.

DAC was founded in 2001 to support individuals with autism, their families and caregivers. A non-profit organisation, its financial sources include subsidies, donations and endowments.

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About Dubai Autism Center:

The Dubai Autism Centre (DAC) is a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive and specialized services to children with Autism and their families. Founded in November 2001 with the issuance of a decree from H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the DAC maintains international standards, providing intervention programs through a holistic approach for children with autism. The Centre also provides information, support, advice and training to professionals and parents of children with autism working towards facilitating a better understanding of autism in the UAE community.

With the provision of Specialist Services, outreach programs and promoting awareness, DAC is able to focus its attention and efforts on a clear vision – to be a center of excellence for those we serve.

The Centre focuses its efforts on providing various educational and therapeutic services to its students; where each student has an Individual Education Plans (IEP's) forming the basis of intervention required. Assessments by special educators and therapists together with parents are regularly reviewed and adjusted to meet the needs of each student.

DAC offers assessment and diagnosis as well as counseling services to as many families as possible offering guidance on relevant programs and necessary intervention programs for their child to achieve the best possible outcome. It also concentrates its efforts in spreading awareness on Autism, involving various sectors of the community in the autism cause.

Professional training at the DAC covers various topics and specialties to ensure that professionals in the field are up to date with the latest methods and developments.

DAC supports research and studies that explore facts related to autism in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the development of international autism information networks.

© Press Release 2019

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