“Autism” ranks among the cases of people of determination in Fujairah

Autism disorder topped the list of cases of people of determination registered at the Center for the Care and Rehabilitation of People of Determination in the Emirate of Fujairah, during the current academic year, with a rate of 44% of the total cases.

The 29th issue of the annual statistical book, issued by the Fujairah Statistics Center, showed that the total number of students of people of determination registered at the Center for the Care and Rehabilitation of People of Determination in Fujairah and the Early Intervention Unit, during the current academic year, amounted to 201 students, male and female, whose cases were distributed among autism, Down syndrome, developmental delay, multiple disabilities, and other disabilities.

The data showed that autism cases came in first place with a total of 88 cases (71 males versus 17 females), distributed among 18 cases in the early intervention unit, including 14 males and four females, and 70 cases in the Fujairah classes, 57 males and 13 females.

Down Syndrome came in second place with a total of 36 cases, including 18 males and 18 females, while the Early Intervention Unit recorded only two cases, both females, compared to 34 cases in Fujairah.

Cases of other disabilities amounted to 23 cases, including eight cases in the early intervention unit, two males and six females, in addition to 15 cases in Fujairah, including seven males and eight females.

The data showed that multiple disabilities amounted to 31 cases, while developmental delay recorded 21 cases, and physical disabilities only two cases, while no cases were recorded within the categories of auditory or visual disability during the same period.

Statistics revealed that males constituted the largest percentage of registered students, with a total of 133 students, compared to 68 female students, and the number of employees at the Care and Rehabilitation Center for People of Determination in Fujairah reached 40 male and female employees, including 27 citizens and 13 non-citizens.

The Care and Rehabilitation Center in the Emirate of Fujairah provides children and students of determination with sensory and occupational therapy services, treatment of language and speech disorders, in addition to behavioral therapy that contributes to addressing behavioral challenges, which helps enhance children’s abilities in communication, adaptation and learning, in addition to providing sports and recreational activities aimed at integrating them into the local community.

While autism disorder is a disorder related to the central nervous system, it affects social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and is associated with repetitive stereotypical behaviors and limited interests, while its symptoms often appear before the age of three years, and in some cases they may begin during the first year of the child’s life or after the 24th month.

Specialized studies approved in the country indicate that autism disorder is more common among males than females, while early psychological and social interventions contribute to improving communication and behavioral skills, and raising the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families, in addition to supporting community integration plans in various fields.