|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 University President Addresses Autism Conference |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 15-Apr-2012 |
| Professor Abdel Hamid Abdel Tawab, president of Fayoum University, has said society should pay greater attention to autistic people to "help them lead normal lives". "The cause of autism is yet to be determined, and a cure for it has not been found yet either. However increased awareness about the disorder leads to early detection of autism, which provides a better chance of early treatment and intervention," Abdel Tawab said at a conference on 'Autism Spectrum Disorder' organized by the Faculty of Education's Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) on Thursday 12th of April 2012. The conference, which aimed to shine light on autism, was attended by Professor Khaled Hamza, vice-president for Education and Students' Affairs, Professor Ahmed Taha, dean of Faculty of Education, Professor Mohammad Farouk, vice-dean for Community Service and Environment Development, Professor Mohammad Al-Sheikh, director of the PCC, Mrs. Maha Helal, chairperson of board of directors of the Egyptian Society for Developing Skills of Children with Special Needs (ADVANCE), educators, clinicians, families, researchers, and healthcare professionals. In his speech, Hamza highlighted the role played by the university in conjunction with the ADVANCE in terms of providing care to those with special needs and helping them integrate into the fabric of Egyptian society. "Autism is a phenomenon which is worth studying as figures show that autism affects one in 88 children", Professor Mohammad Al-Sheikh said. He also said: " As part of the University's mission in helping people with special needs, the PCC provides specialized course in the fields of speech disorder, learning disabilities, and psychological counseling." Taking the floor, Ahmed Taha spoke about the conference topics, including early identification and intervention, education, employment, and communication. In her address, Maha Helaly talked about the positive participation of Fayoum University in the country’s first wide-scale awareness campaign dedicated towards autism awareness. She also said that the United Nations General Assembly declared the April 2 as the World Autism Awareness Day. It is worth mentioning that autism is a complex neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, and its symptoms may range from mild to severe. It is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
