Autistic children in Iraq…continuous family suffering and demands for school integration | health

Children with autism spectrum disorder and their families face increasing challenges in various Iraqi cities, due to the scarcity of specialized centers and the high costs of treatment and rehabilitation.

In this context, Haider Kamel Mahdi, one of the founders of the International Academy for Autism, explains that “diagnosis is half the treatment for autism disorder, which is not classified as a disease as some think,” stressing that the families of those affected need psychological and material support to overcome this suffering.

Mahdi added, “Until now there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder. Rather, the therapeutic philosophy relies on behavior modification programs and occupational therapy, in addition to intensive speech therapy programs that help them adapt in the future.”

For her part, Shukria Rahma, Director of the International Academy for Autism, highlights the dimensions of the crisis, saying: “There is a great limitation in specialized centers in this field, whether governmental or private, and therefore the state must support families more.”

She added that the increase in the number of injured children has not been matched by development in the level of government services, explaining that the financial aid provided to some families does not cover the actual needs for treatment and rehabilitation, and stressing the need for the state to “throw its weight” to support government and private institutions working in this field.

Within the International Academy for Autism in Baghdad, the journey of Iraqi families begins from the discovery of the infection, through the difficulties of diagnosis, treatment and education, all the way to the families’ demands to increase government support and integrate people with autism into society and schools.

In a related context, Umm Mustafa, the mother of a child with autism, demands that children with this disorder be integrated into regular schools attended by non-autistic students, stressing that this contributes to helping them integrate into society naturally from a young age.