Helping autistic patients integrate into society

April 23, 2012
sau_helping

Riyadh, April 23: Defense Minister Prince Salman yesterday opened the Prince Nasser bin Abdulaziz Autism Center that belongs to the Saudi Charitable Society for Autism.


Prince Turki bin Nasser sent his thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his support for the center, which adheres to international standards.


Prince Turki said: “Prince Salman’s dedication to this center comes from his keenness in supporting social and charitable activities, especially those targeting the disabled. Members of the Saudi Charitable Society for Autism are very keen on seeking the best services for this section of society in the Kingdom.”


Zayd bin Abdullah Al-Mashari, adviser to Prince Nasser, explained the center was established in 1997 under the name Academy of Special Education. It then came under the supervision of the Saudi Charity for Autism, authorized officially by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Approval was granted by King Abdullah to name the center after Prince Nasser.


The late Crown Prince Sultan donated SR10 million, while the contribution of Prince Turki, chairman of the center, was the land on which the center stands. The area is 10,000 sq. meters and valued at SR25 million in addition to SR10 million worth of support from the Ministry of Social Affairs.


Al-Mishari added the center consists of six basic units all working for the benefit of people with autism, including one for the overall clinical diagnosis of autism, one for early intervention, one for the education of boys, an evening program unit and a unit for the vocational rehabilitation of boys.


The unit of vocational training for girls will be operational by the beginning of the next scholastic year, as will the unit of education and training that will hold lectures, seminars and workshops and facilitate participation in exhibitions and distribute publications.


Al-Mishari said that the center seeks to achieve other objectives including the protection of rights and equal opportunities and integrate those with autism into mainstream society.


It also aims to provide education, training and rehabilitation for children and adults with autism, provide activities aimed at the discovery and development of their potential to the highest possible extent, and raise public awareness of individuals with autism in the community to facilitate acceptance and improve their daily lives, especially with regard to social interaction with others.


The center will organize courses and workshops for teachers, specialists and parents involved in the education and training of children with autism, and to support research and studies that deal with people with autism by providing opportunities for researchers.


Al-Mishari said: “The conditions for access to the center include providing a medical report from a clinic that outlines the diagnosis of autism and similar disorders. The age of the child should be at least two years and not more than seven years for boys to join the unit of early intervention, and girls should not be more than 14 years.”


“Tuition fees at the center is SR15,000 annually, which is less than half the tuition fees in nongovernmental centers for people with special needs. For those unable to pay the fees, Saudi charities may be able to help.”


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News Network
May 5,2020

Dubai, May 5: A Saudi ministerial decision issued on Monday allows companies in the private sector to reduce salaries by 40 per cent and allows termination of contracts owing to the economic hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to daily newspaper Al Sharq Awsat.

The new decision was still not published by the cabinet according to the newspaper.

The decision which the newspaper saw a copy of was signed by Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to regulate the labour contract in the current period, allows employers to reduce the employees salaries by 40 percent of the actual effective wage for a period of 6 months, in proportion to the hours of work and allowing the termination of employee contract after 6 months of the COVID-19 circumstances.

The new decision has also included a provision in which the employer would be allowed to cut wages even he or she benefits from the subsidy provided by the goverment, such as those for helping pay workers wages or exemption from government fees.

The decision also stressed that employers are not allowed to terminate any employee, unless three conditions are met.

1.            First the passing of six months since the measures of salary cut has been taken

2.            Reducing pay, annual leave and exceptional leave were all used

3.            Company proves that its facing financial troubles due to the circumstances.

The memo, which goes into affect as soon as its published in the government’s official newspaper, ensures that the employee will receive his/her salary if on annual leave within the period of 6 months.

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Agencies
July 22,2020

Riyadh, Jul 22: Saudi King Salman held a cabinet meeting via video call from hospital in the capital Riyadh on Tuesday, a day after the 84-year-old monarch was admitted with inflammation of the gall bladder.

Three Saudi sources said the king was in stable condition.

A video of the king chairing the meeting was broadcast on Saudi state TV on Tuesday evening. In the video, which has no sound, King Salman can be seen behind a desk, wordlessly reading and leafing through documents.

The king, who has ruled the world’s largest oil exporter and close US ally since 2015, was undergoing medical checks, state media on Monday cited a Royal Court statement as saying.

Three well-connnected Saudi sources who declined to be identified, two of whom were speaking late on Monday and one on Tuesday, said the king was “fine”.

An official in the region, who requested anonymity, said he spoke to one of King Salman’s sons on Monday who seemed “calm” and that there was no sense of panic about the monarch’s health.

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News Network
June 26,2020

Dubai, Jun 26: As summers in Dubai bloom in its full glory, the most savoured summer fruit - Mongo - is getting the most special treatment in the city as it gets delivered to customers via an emperor like ride of a Lamborghini.

As per a video report by Gulf News, the Pakistan Supermarket in Dubai is delivering the king of fruits to the doorsteps of its customers in a green coloured Lamborghini to match the level of its supremacy among fruits.

"The king should travel like a king," says the managing director of the store, Mohammad Jehanzeb who delivers the pulpy fruit by himself and also takes the customers on a short ride in the luxury car.

In order to avail the offer rolled out on the Facebook page of the famous supermarket, customers are required to make a minimum order of Dh100, reports the Gulf News.

"The idea is to put a smile on people's faces and make them feel special," says Jehanzeb who has put a smile on the face of dozens of Dubai residents amidst the throes of a pandemic with his 'Mangoes in Lamborghini' campaign.

The delicacy this year has gone viral with videos of delighted mango lovers taking a joy ride in the supercar doing rounds over the internet.

"The joy ride was essentially meant for kids who have been sequestered at homes because of the coronavirus but adults are equally thrilled at the prospect of getting behind the wheels of my Lamborghini Huracan. I am happy to oblige them too," says Jehanzeb.

"Each order takes about an hour. We do about 7-8 home deliveries a day but are hoping to ramp up the numbers to 12," he adds.

Arshad Khan who hails from the Indian city of nawabs - Lucknow- ordered the 'nawabi' varieties - Sindhri and Anwar Ratol - and said that his children were exhilarated after hearing the roar of the Lamborghini outside their Falcon City villa.

"For someone who hails from Lucknow -- the land of the famous dussheri and landga mangoes -- I was a bit skeptical about the taste of Pakistani mangoes. I ordered them for the sheer experience of seeing them come to my place in a luxury supercar," Gulf News quoted Khan as saying.

"It was quite exhilarating and I must confess that the mangoes were as delicious as the ones back home," he added.

Mango fruit has been a delicacy in the 16th-century Hindustan sub-continent. It holds a fascinating narrative in Babur Nama which is an autobiography of the Mughal emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur.

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