DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) organised four discussion sessions remotely for families whose children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and disabilities.
The programme was held as part of e-learning platform for ASD on the Ministry’s website in cooperation with Al Shafallah Center for Persons with Disability, Sidra Medicine, Qatar Foundation and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
The first session included advice for parents on how to support their children in this stage of returning to school and taking care of their own health, while the second session included advice on how to support children after a period of social distancing and difficulties returning to sleep.
The third session discussed how to train autistic children to wear a mask and follow preventive instructions, as well as how to deal with behaviours in the classroom upon returning to school.
During the fourth session, precautions that families and caregivers should take with their children and caretakers were discussed, in order to ensure their safety, as well as how to communicate with them.
Enhancing services
Health Lead of National Autism Plan at MoPH, Dr Noof Mohammed Al Siddiqi, said that the sessions on back to school come within the framework of the efforts of MoPH and its partners to enhance the services provided to families of those with ASD and disabilities.
This is in conjunction with the beginning of the new school year in light of the coronavirus pandemic and through the e-learning platform for ASD on the Ministry’s website.
She pointed out it was considered the discussion sessions should include the most important advice that students with ASD and disabilities and their families and caregivers need upon returning to school.
E-learning platform
The MoPH has recently launched an e-learning platform for those with ASD, which is considered the first stage of the e-learning website for persons with disabilities in Qatar, in partnership with HMC Child Development and Paediatric Rehabilitation Center, Qatar Foundation, Al Shafallah Center, and Qatar Autism Society. Primary Health Care Corporation and Sidra Medicine have also joined the platform recently.
The launch of the platform aims to provide families and caregivers of persons with ASD of different ages with an electronic source of scientific information covering educational, social and health topics to guide the education and development of children or adults with the disorder.