Latest news with #3rdInternationalConferenceonAutismResearchAdvancements
Al Etihad
20-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Top experts empower families in autism care at Abu Dhabi conference
20 Apr 2025 23:45 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)By bringing together top international experts and scientists, the 3rd International Conference on Autism Research Advancements not only showcases the latest trends and technologies that can help those on the spectrum — it also creates a meaningful space for families to connect with industry leaders and learn best practices. Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO), the conference kicked off on Saturday and runs until April 22 at the Abu Dhabi Energy with World Autism Month, the event is jointly organised by the ZHO, ADNOC, Lotus Holistic Center – Abu Dhabi, and Fatima College of Health Sciences. It builds on the UAE's success in autism care by offering a global platform where research and best practices can be an interview with Aletihad, Prof. Afaf El-Ansary, Member of Autism Research and Treatment Center, King Saud University, highlighted the shift in autism research: 'There is a shift toward understanding autism as treatable. But we stress that treatments must be based on science. This conference supports evidence-based treatments — nothing built on illusions.'She drew the attention to how making science understandable for families can lead to early action and better outcomes.'Parents do not just learn — they practise, especially in behavioural therapy,' said El-Ansary, who is also a consultant of the Autism Centre at Lotus Holistic Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, and Chair of the Conference's Scientific Helali, Founder and Chairperson of the Egyptian Advance Society for Persons with Autism, discussed how the new approach to autism goes beyond workshops.'Neurodiversity applies to various challenges, such as reading and math difficulties. It is about fostering acceptance and nurturing differences in the classroom, training teachers, and involving parents, non-disabled students, and citizens in creating an inclusive environment,' Helali said. Awareness Drive New approaches and developments in autism care were explored and discussed at the conference. Dr Walid Abu Zaid, Professor of Neurosurgery at Sohag University, stressed that while outcomes vary based on age, related conditions, and family involvement, early diagnosis — before the age of three — makes a big difference."I hope advances in genetics, detox, homeopathy, AI, and rehab will make autism more manageable," Prof. Abu Zaid Hussein, Founder and CEO of the Autism MENA Foundation (AMENA), shared her thoughts on autism advocacy, stressing the importance of inclusion and awareness."Autism is a newer buzzword, but we need more acceptance and understanding. Conferences like this are vital for raising awareness and creating a platform for collaboration across sectors,' she the conference's significance, Hussein said: "When we come together, we present a unified voice based on shared experiences and research. This makes a stronger case for governments to act. This conference provides a space for families to learn and connect, addressing the confusion parents often face."She called on professionals, organisations, and governments to work together to engage with parents and families. "We need more monitoring to protect families from misleading advice, especially with so many self-proclaimed experts online,' she said.
Al Etihad
19-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Under the patronage of Khalid bin Zayed, 3rd International Autism Conference Research & Practice begins in Abu Dhabi
19 Apr 2025 17:22 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, the 3rd International Conference on Autism Research Advancements will take place from April 19-22, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center. The event is jointly organised by Zayed Higher Organization, ADNOC, Lotus Holistic Center – Abu Dhabi, and Fatima College of Health with World Autism Month, the conference reflects the UAE's steadfast commitment to leading humanitarian and scientific efforts that empower people of determination and enhance their quality of builds upon the UAE's continued success in care and rehabilitation, especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by offering a global platform for experts and stakeholders to present and discuss cutting-edge research and innovative conference will highlight the latest findings in autism research, providing participants, ranging from local and international experts to practitioners and families, with access to world-class knowledge and evidence-based practices in diagnosis, treatment, and programme is designed to, facilitate the exchange of scientific and practical expertise, explore genetic, neurological, and environmental causes of autism, showcase effective therapeutic and educational interventions, promote inclusive education, employment, and community integration, empower families through psychological support and specialised workshops, leverage artificial intelligence in diagnosis and care, strengthen international and regional collaboration on intervention strategies with insight from leaders and Excellent Abdulla Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organization, said: 'Organising the third edition of this global conference under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan reflects our unwavering commitment to enhancing societal awareness and empowering people of determination, especially those with autism. Guided by the visionary leadership of our nation, we continue to build a more inclusive and cohesive society. 'Innovation in care and rehabilitation opens new possibilities for improving lives. Through this international gathering, we reaffirm our mission to position Abu Dhabi as a regional centre of excellence in supporting people of determination, particularly in autism, through local and global partnerships. Science remains one of our most powerful tools for empowerment, and we proudly support research and knowledge sharing through this landmark initiative.'Dr Ghuwaya Al Neyadi, Senior Vice President of Medical Services and Quality of Life at ADNOC, said: 'ADNOC is proud to partner with the Zayed Higher Organization to co-organise this impactful conference. This initiative embodies our deep commitment to enhancing the lives of People of Determination, aligned with our national priorities of building a more inclusive society. For us, investing in people is the most valuable investment.'Ms Amina Al Heidan, Head of Lotus Holistic Center – Abu Dhabi, said: 'We are honoured to support this specialised global platform that brings together leading experts and researchers in autism. This conference is especially meaningful as it takes place during Autism Awareness Month and reaffirms our dedication to empowering individuals with autism through science-based interventions and collective action.'The four-day event features an engaging agenda of scientific lectures and practical workshops covering topics such as, Genetic factors and the human microbiome, Biomarkers and early diagnosis, Behavioral and language intervention strategies, Educational and vocational inclusion, Nutrition and physical activity and The role of artificial intelligence in medical and therapeutic will focus on nutritional intervention, occupational and speech therapy, and early childhood intervention. The programme will also feature community dialogue sessions and contributions from families of children with autism, providing unique perspectives on care and integration. The conference will welcome distinguished speakers from around the world, including specialists in psychiatry, neuroscience, special education, and AI. Participating institutions include, United Arab Emirates University, King Saud University, the UK National Health Service (NHS) and prestigious universities and research centers from the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Arab world.
Al Etihad
17-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
International Conference on Autism Research Advancements to begin on Saturday
17 Apr 2025 19:59 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO), the 3rd International Conference on Autism Research Advancements will commence on April 19 and continue for four days at the Abu Dhabi Energy conference is jointly organised by ZHO, ADNOC, Lotus Holistic Center - Abu Dhabi, and Fatima College of Health conference coincides with World Autism Month and affirms the UAE's commitment to leading humanitarian and scientific efforts to empower people of determination and enhance their quality of life. It builds on the ongoing success in the UAE within the fields of care and rehabilitation, particularly for individuals with conference will shed light on the most recent scientific studies and specialised research in autism, and represents a genuine opportunity for participants from within and outside the UAE - including experts, practitioners, and parents - to learn about the best international experiences in diagnosis, treatment, and conference also aims to exchange scientific and practical expertise in the field of autism, while highlighting genetic, neurological, and environmental causes of the disorder and presenting effective educational and therapeutic practices. It will also support inclusive integration in education, employment, and society; empower families through psychological counselling and specialised workshops; enhance the use of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and treatment; and support international and regional cooperation in developing intervention Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of ZHO, said that organising the conference reflects the organisation's keenness to continue its efforts to raise societal awareness and empower people of determination, especially individuals with autism spectrum disorder, based on the directives of the wise leadership and its insightful vision to build a more inclusive and cohesive society. He affirmed that innovation in care and rehabilitation methods opens new horizons for improving the quality of life of people of determination and their families. He said that through this global event, the organisation reaffirms its commitment to positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional centre of excellence in supporting people of determination, especially in the field of autism, in a spirit of cooperation and integration with local and international Humaidan also said that science is one of the most important tools for empowerment. Through this conference, the organisation continues to support scientific research and knowledge exchange in pursuit of a brighter future for people of determination and their families. He expressed pride in the successful partnership with ADNOC and Lotus Holistic Center in organising this important event, which reflects the UAE's leadership in both humanitarian and scientific Ghuwaya Al Neyadi, Senior Vice President, Group Medical and Wellbeing at ADNOC, emphasised the importance of the partnership, stating, "At ADNOC, we are proud to collaborate with Zayed Higher Organisation in organising the Third Autism Conference for Research and Practice. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting and empowering People of Determination, in alignment with our broader efforts to enhance quality of life across our community. In line with our national agenda to prioritise human development as a key pillar of progress, we intend to drive impactful initiatives and continue building a more inclusive society.'She added that this conference holds special significance as it is held during Autism Awareness Month and embodies the ZHO's strong commitment to supporting and empowering children and adults with autism spectrum disorder through joint efforts and the adoption of evidence-based practices in diagnosis, intervention, and conference includes a rich programme of scientific lectures and training workshops covering various topics, including genetic factors, the microbiome, biomarkers, early diagnosis, behavioral and language intervention strategies, educational and vocational integration, nutrition and physical activity and their impact, and the role of artificial intelligence in the medical will be held on nutritional intervention, occupational and speech therapy, and early intervention, in addition to community discussion sessions and contributions from families of children with autism. The conference will see wide international participation from experts in psychiatry, neuroscience, special education, and artificial intelligence, representing prestigious universities and research centres around the world, including UAE University, King Saud University, the UK's National Health Service (NHS), and academic institutions from the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Arab world.
