As part of government efforts to provide comprehensive support for children on the autism spectrum and promote their integration into society, Minister of Health Dr. Musab al-Ali and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Qabawat inaugurated the Kafarsouseh Health Center for the care and rehabilitation of children with autism in Damascus.
The center aims to strengthen free, specialized services for children with autism, with support from the developmental organization Take My Hand. Minister Ali affirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to empowering children with autism and expanding similar centers to all Syrian governorates, highlighting the abilities and potential of this group to excel and innovate.
Minister Qabawat described children with autism as “the spirit and hope,” stressing that caring for them is a shared societal responsibility that requires coordinated efforts to rehabilitate them and replicate this model across the country.
A Qualitative Step within the National Plan
Assistant Minister of Health Dr. Hussein al-Khatib explained the opening of the center falls within a national plan to enhance healthcare and psychological support for children with special needs. He noted that the center’s role goes beyond in-house treatment to include family support and guidance on continuing behavioral therapy at home. Khatib revealed that the center has already begun providing behavioral therapy services to 61 children, adding that this experience will later be expanded to other health institutions in different governorates.
Dr. Anas Sheikha, head of the Take My Hand organization specializing in autism rehabilitation, stated that the center offers a wide range of services addressing behavioral, psychological, sensory, and motor development. He added that the center also provides school integration programs in cooperation with the Ministry of Education to prepare children with autism to join mainstream schools alongside their peers.
Sheikha explained that a specialized educational curriculum for individuals with autism has been prepared and translated into Arabic, with implementation set to begin soon in inclusive classrooms. He emphasized that all services are provided free of charge to ease the burden on families and praised government support for ensuring the project’s sustainability and future expansion.
A Parent’s Perspective
In an interview with Levant24, Lina, the mother of a young girl with autism named Zainab, described daily life as a series of unique challenges. “The greatest difficulty lies in communication, both within society and in personal interactions,” she said.
Lina noted that the opening of the center marked a turning point for her family. “It lifted a tremendous burden from us,” she explained. “The free services removed a major financial strain, and its proximity saved us time and effort. Most importantly, it gave us hope and a real sense of support.”
She added that the center’s focus on preparing children for mainstream education deeply resonated with her, saying: “My greatest wish is for Zainab to attend school like any other child, and this center brings that hope closer to reality.”
