Five ministries have presented reports to King Abdullah on the situation of the 100,000 autistic children in the Kingdom as part of a Ministry of Social Affairs study conducted through the Saudi Autism Society in 22 major cities. The figure of 100,000 autistic children was made known in a speech by Minister of Social Affairs Yousef Al-Otheiman and delivered by Ali Al-Hinaki, the General Director of Social Affairs in Makkah, at a graduation ceremony for autistic children at the Al-Faisaliya Charity in Jeddah “The study aims to support the families of autistic children, and provide them with the social and medical support and help they need,” Al-Hinaki said. “The Ministry of Civil Service has given its backing for a diploma currently being worked on to qualify women to work with autistic children, while the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce, and King Abdul Aziz University are all coordinating to make appointments.” Princess Fahda Aal Saud, head of the Al-Faisaliya Charity, said the charity was suffering from a “crisis in resources” impeding its efforts to provide care, support and training to autistic children. The annual expenditure for caring for a single autistic child was 120,000 riyals, Princess Fahda said, of which the charity in some instances covered 75 percent of the cost, and in others 100 percent. Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The signs of autism begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects many parts of the brain although how this occurs is not completely understood.
