Under the patronage of H.E. Mohammed bin Sultan Al-Busaidi, Minister of State & Governor of Dhofar, the workshop of Strategies to Deal with Autistic Children began yesterday at Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah.

The workshop, which was organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH), represented by the Mental Health Section in the Department of Non-communicable Diseases, attended by number of members of the State Council, senior officials of Dhofar Governorate, and around 130 behavioral medicine specialists.

The two-day workshop targeted the parents of the autism children and the psychologists working in the health institutions.

The workshop addressed the definition of the autism spectrum disorder and its current situation in the Sultanate, understanding the factors of its spread, identifying the available health services, the early detection, as well as early intervention.

The workshop hosted number of autism experts from May Institute in Boston, USA; Dr. Ralph Sperry, Director General of the Institute, Dr. Ryan Martin, a researcher in behavioral analysis and Dr. Cynthia Anderson, Director of National Autism Center, Boston.

Dr. Amira Al-Ridan, Director of Health Education & Awareness Programs pointed out in her presentation to the health services provided for autism spectrum disorder in the Sultanate. She also added that this disorder needs large and wide move due to the increasing infected cases.