Dimasheq – Exclusive
The “Amal Khani” Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, one of the projects run by the Al-Raja Development Fund Association, continues to provide rehabilitation and care services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disorders, relying on community initiatives and public support despite the challenges and difficult circumstances Syria has experienced.
The center’s director, Nada Ghabra, said that establishing the center and ensuring the continuation of its work had not been easy, noting that the project relied on support from Syrians both inside and outside the country. She added that neither this center nor the other “Amal Khani” centers had received any support from international organizations.
Ghabra explained that the family of Marwan Saeed Shahrour and his siblings played a role in supporting the center, alongside the benefit gained from the training provided by Dr. Doaa Abdul Latif Othman. She noted that the work faced significant challenges amid the circumstances the country had endured, but belief in the importance of the project, dedication, and continuous efforts helped overcome these difficulties.
She added that the association’s board of directors appointed her and her colleague, Lama Al-Sawwaf, to manage the center, based on their university education and professional experience, with the aim of developing its operations and providing specialized services for individuals with disabilities and developmental disorders.
She explained that the center seeks to provide a safe and stimulating environment that enables beneficiaries to develop their skills and abilities through rehabilitation programs based on the latest scientific and educational approaches. It also works to train specialized personnel in supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disorders.
The center also seeks to support and empower beneficiaries’ families by providing guidance sessions and organizing training workshops for parents and children’s siblings, helping them better address their children’s needs and support them throughout the rehabilitation process.
Ghabra stressed that the center’s continued operation stems from the spirit of generosity and solidarity that characterizes Syrian society, emphasizing the importance of continuing its work to provide the greatest possible level of services and care despite ongoing challenges and limited resources.
