(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Department of Psychological Sciences in Qatar University College Education (QU-CED) has hosted a two-day seminar in support of World Autism Awareness Day, under the title "Employment: The Autism Advantage".
The event aimed to increase the community's awareness on the employability of people with autism due to their heightened abilities in pattern recognition, logical reasoning, and attention to detail.
This makes them ideally suited to certain types of employment, such as software testing, data entry, lab work and proofreading, among others.
Organised in partnership with Al Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs and the Intellectual Disability and Autism Programme at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), the event drew over 100 participants, including faculty from QU and AGU, Al Shafallah members, officials from the Omani Autism Society, QU staff and students, and government and civil society partners.
AGU's Intellectual Disability and Autism Programme co-ordinator Dr Maryam Isa Alshirawi gave a presentation focused on AGU's various programmes and teachers' professional development, as well as the programmes offered by AGU's non-governmental partners.
CED's Department head and event co-ordinator Dr Asma al-Attiyah, associate professor of Psychological Sciences Dr Hatem al-Khamra, associate professor of Special Education Dr Kholoud Dababneh, Shafallah's Psychological and Family Support - director Dr Mohamed al-Attrash, and psychologists Hani al-Sayed and Faten Saleh discussed topics included autism definition and characteristics, and Applied Behaviour Analysis services.
CED dean Dr Hissa Sadiq said the college serves as a significant link between the government, the education sector and the society in engaging dialogue on timely issues such as inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of society.
Al Shafallah executive director Mohamed al-Sada said: "Through several programmes, advanced services, human expertise and community outreach at the centre, we aim to rehabilitate children with disabilities and integrate them into the society, as well as promote equality for them to become active members in the community. This is achieved with the collaborative efforts with the different institutions in Qatar, contributing to a higher level of awareness and the fulfilment of this vision."
Dr al-Attiyah said the event was an invaluable opportunity to advance the awareness of students and the wider community on this disorder and orient them on the advantages of involving people with autism in various professions.
"It also shows QU's commitment to inclusion of people with disabilities into all areas of society."
Dr al-Attrash pointed out that Al Shafallah Centre is dedicated to providing the best services to its students by using procedures that are supported by scientific research to maximise their abilities and potential to the fullest extent in order to live their life as independently as possible.
"We are honoured to work with QU in the pursuit of increased awareness of this disorder and the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the society."
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