Vice President Faisal Naseem has launched a manual on how to provide guidance and educate children with autism.
At a ceremony held at the Maldives Autism Association on Sunday, Vice President toured the Autism Centre grounds and visited the therapy classes in session at the Centre following the launch. Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali and other relevant parties attended the ceremony.
The primary objective of the guidebook is to educate and inform professionals, such as parents and teachers, on how to effectively lead and educate children on the autism spectrum. The guidebook for the Autism Association was compiled based on observations and data gathered from autistic children seeking help from the organization. The book also includes behavior modification strategies and auxiliary operations in the monitoring and development of skills of children with autism.
At the ceremony, the Vice President emphasized the importance given by the President for inclusive education, noting that the government's goal is to promote and spread awareness on the matter. He explained some of the work done in this area and said the government has recently introduced national scholarship opportunities in speech therapy and occupational therapy. He urged interested candidates to take advantage of these opportunities and take the time to help young people who need additional guidance and support to close the educational gap.
Vice President Faisal Naseem also talked about the ongoing work of creating a Child Development Center in Hulhumalé Hospital, noting that the center's goal is to provide critical services and treatment plans for children in need.
Speaking of the manual released yesterday, the Vice President said that this manual is particularly helpful for parents raising children with autism. He congratulated the association for its excellent work in producing this book and reiterated the government’s commitment to providing inclusive and fair education for all children on all inhabited islands in the Maldives.