MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is moving towards building an Autism Spectrum Disorder Centre for care and rehabilitation that will integrate and empower all segments of society, including people with disabilities.
The focus will be on promoting health and well-being, providing high-quality healthcare services, offering comprehensive and inclusive education, and encouraging innovation and the development of technologies to help people with disabilities overcome the challenges of integrating into society.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik issued orders approving RO 7 million to establish an Autism Spectrum Disorder Centre for Care and Rehabilitation in Muscat Governorate, affiliated with the National Centre for Autism. The orders also stipulated a study of the governorates' needs for such centres and a timetable for their establishment, based on the number of cases in each governorate.
Nadia al Ajmi, Director of the National Centre for Autism at the Ministry of Social Development, stated in an interview that the centre, equipped with advanced services, will contribute to empowering people with autism spectrum disorder and effectively integrating them into society. She said, "There is no doubt that providing integrated services in a single building with the latest technologies and equipment will positively impact the level of service provided to autism spectrum disorder cases, empower them, contribute to developing their skills and enable their natural integration into society. This will also be reflected in the quality of service provided by the centre."
Oman in right direction to integrate people with autism disorder
The centre will be built within the existing National Autism Centre in the Wilayat of Al Seeb, with a building area of approximately 26,000 square metres and a capacity of approximately 150 cases per day. It is expected to be the first of its kind in the Middle East, providing a wide and integrated range of rehabilitation services that meet the needs of people with autism spectrum disorder. These services include specialised rehabilitation halls equipped with modern tools and technologies that contribute to achieving social integration for these cases. Quality recreational services will also be provided, through specialised and integrated recreational halls and programmes tailored to health.
In addition, the centre will allow non-members to use the halls at specific times, as well as providing training and rehabilitation services. It will serve as the central entity responsible for providing specialised training services to those working in the field of autism, granting licences to practice this profession and providing ongoing training services to families from all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
Temporary care services will also be provided by offering appropriate and accessible facilities for those suffering from severe autism spectrum disorder, as well as diagnostic and assessment services specialising in early and comprehensive diagnosis in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.
The Sultanate of Oman is making significant efforts to ensure excellence in academic, social and psychological healthcare services for all its citizens, including persons with disabilities.
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