With support from Al-Turki Holding Company, the Autism Families Association launched its comprehensive rehabilitation program, “Behavior and Empowerment,” in the Eastern Province. The program aims to train and rehabilitate young people with autism and secure suitable employment opportunities for them, as part of a six-month career path.
The program aims to strike an effective balance between developing basic and professional skills and providing psychological and social support, within an integrated rehabilitation framework based on measuring individual abilities and professional inclinations. This enables beneficiaries to reach advanced stages that enable them to obtain suitable jobs that enhance their independence and quality of life.
The program includes five consecutive tracks, starting with vocational training and rehabilitation, followed by psychological counseling and support, family counseling, specialized workshops, and youth and educational activities that help refine participants' skills and prepare them for integration into the workplace and society.
The program also focuses on modifying behaviors that may hinder social integration or limit employment opportunities, in addition to enabling beneficiaries to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the labor market, thereby contributing to enhancing their scientific and practical competence and raising their level of professional readiness.
His Highness Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Farhan Al Saud, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Autism Families Association, expressed his pride in launching the program in the Eastern Province, emphasizing that it represents a strategic step in the association's ongoing efforts to enable people with autism spectrum disorder to effectively integrate into society and the labor market. His Highness said:
“Through this unique program, the Autism Families Association seeks to build an integrated rehabilitation system that is not limited to vocational training, but extends to include support, guidance, and various activities, thereby achieving the integration required to enable our children to overcome challenges and open up promising future prospects for them.”
His Highness highlighted the importance of the partnership with the private sector, represented by Al-Turki Holding Company, considering it an inspiring model of community cooperation that promotes the achievement of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals in the field of empowering people with disabilities and improving their quality of life.
His Highness concluded his speech by emphasizing that the Autism Families Association will continue its mission to promote the social and professional integration of young people with autism, believing that they are promising talents who can contribute effectively to the national development process.
For his part, Mr. Rami Al-Turki, President and CEO of Al-Turki Holding Company, affirmed his support for the “Behavior and Empowerment” program, based on the company's deep belief in its social responsibility and its role in empowering a group that is dear to society. He said:
“We are proud of our partnership with the Autism Families Association, and through this unique program, we seek to contribute to building a promising professional future for young people with autism, in line with the Kingdom's vision of enhancing quality of life and enabling people with disabilities to participate actively in development.”
It is worth mentioning that the “Behavior and Empowerment” program concluded its first cycle in Riyadh with the graduation of 16 young people with autism, who successfully completed vocational training and actively participated in society and the labor market, obtaining real job opportunities in cooperation with several entities.