Dubai launches Autism Murals initiative as part of awareness drive

Hessa Buhumaid, Director-General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, witnessed the inauguration of the 'Autism Murals' initiative.

The initiative is part of the annual autism awareness campaign, which was launched earlier this month under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, with the slogan "Towards an Autism-friendly Community".

This came during a live mural painting event performed by children of the Dubai Autism Centre, in which a number of government officials participated in the presence of the students' parents and a number of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Autism Centre.

The 'Autism Murals' initiative, launched by the Dubai Autism Centre under the supervision of a group of local, Arab and foreign artists, aims to transform the walls of buildings into artistic paintings that carry awareness messages about autism and reveal the talents and creativity of people with autism.

As an expression of support for this initiative, Hessa Buhumaid said that the annual campaign for autism awareness is an important occasion to enhance community awareness of the needs of people with autism and how to respect and provide these needs, allowing them opportunities for development and better integration into society in line with the leadership's vision and direction for a friendly and empowering community for people of determination. She affirmed that people with autism have many distinctive and exceptional abilities and talents that make them able to express their differences and desires, which gives the'Autism Murals' initiative a special position, because it provides us with the opportunity to listen to them and communicate with them in a way we love.