Raising autism awareness in the Arab region

A variety of activities were presented by Fellow Maha Helali’s ADVANCE Society to commemorate Autism Awareness Month in April. Events included a roundtable, a sporting gala involving 23 community organizations and nearly 600 participants, a conference on autism organized in conjunction with Assiut University, and an art exhibit held at the Cairo Opera House. Raising visibility and encouraging discussion are fundamental to promoting social inclusion and integration of individuals on the autism spectrum, especially as awareness of autism and other disabilities has only recently begun to develop in the Arab region. In April, Maha traveled to Qatar (attending the Shafallah Center’s 3^rd Annual Forum) and Saudi Arabia, and later this month, will travel to Lebanon, to participate in international conferences on autism awareness and inclusion.