Bani Mustafa: The National Autism Center is the first of its kind to provide specialized services for autistic children*
Bani Mustafa: The establishment of the National Center is the result of ongoing efforts led by the Ministry and represents a qualitative achievement embodied in partnership, cooperation, and integration with the private and voluntary sectors.
Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa inaugurated the National Autism Center today, Monday, in Zarqa. The opening ceremony was attended by Zarqa Governor Dr. Firas Abu Qaoud, a number of the governorate's representatives, Police Director Brigadier General Fahed Abu Wandi, President of the General Union of Charitable Societies Amer Al-Khawaldeh, a number of members of the Union's administrative body, Director General Khalil Al-Qubaisi, President of the Zarqa Union Mohammed Al-Majali, and a number of families of children receiving services.
Bani Mustafa emphasized the royal directives on the importance of providing the necessary care and attention to the most vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities. She also emphasized the Berlin-Amman Declaration, which emerged from the 2025 World Disability Summit, co-organized by Jordan, Germany, and the International Disability Alliance, with the participation and presence of His Majesty Abdullah II. The declaration focused primarily on supporting the rights of persons with disabilities.
She noted that the National Autism Center is the first of its kind to provide specialized services for children with autism. Its establishment is the result of ongoing efforts led by the Ministry, and represents a qualitative achievement embodied in partnership, cooperation, and integration with the private and voluntary sectors. This partnership was embodied by the rehabilitation and equipping of the center with support from the Association of Jordanian Banks, a fifteen-year building donation from the Union of Charitable Societies of Zarqa Governorate, and in cooperation with the Ray of Hope Charitable Society.
She added that the center specializes in providing services to autistic children, staffed by a qualified, multidisciplinary team. It has been equipped to receive 80 autistic children, including 50 services related to children and their families, and 30 individual cases.
She explained that the services provided by the center include family counseling, community rehabilitation, early intervention and special education, and physical and occupational therapy for two age groups: from birth to six years old, and from six to nine years old. She noted that these services will later contribute to enrollment in inclusive education.
Bani Mustafa highlighted the importance of expanding to include other areas of the Kingdom, explaining that the ministry has begun providing daytime services to people with disabilities through mobile units, as one example of an effective partnership with the Jordan Banks Association.
The President of the General Federation, Al-Khawaldeh, emphasized the importance of partnership and coordination between the General Federation and the federations in the governorates, along with the Ministry of Development, to enhance work and achievements that serve the mission of charitable, volunteer, and humanitarian work, and to advance the Federation's work in a way that serves the local community.
Omar Al-Jarrah, Secretary of the Federation of Associations for Zarqa Governorate, stated that the Zarqa Federation, when providing this building for the establishment of this center, was guided by the "Empowerment Axis," one of the axes of the updated National Social Protection Strategy. This axis emphasizes the importance of providing support and protection services to various groups, including children with disabilities and children in need of protection and care, including orphans and those in a similar situation. This is achieved through a number of educational and health services and programs, which serve a focus on early childhood, inclusive education for persons with disabilities, and primary health care.
Bani Mustafa also inspected the center's facilities, reviewed its offerings, and met with a number of families of children benefiting from the center's services.