Saudi Autistic Society

The Saudi Autistic Society is a Saudi charitable organization that specializes in providing and developing comprehensive services for autism patients and their families in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It collaborates with governmental, charitable, and private entities to establish a database on various types of autism cases and the centers that offer them care and rehabilitation.

The society was established and registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs (currently the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development) on August 30, 2003. Its main center is located in the capital, Riyadh, and its services cover all parts of the Kingdom.

The society aims to establish specialized care centers for the autistic community in provinces based on the prevalence rate of cases in these areas, as determined by studies. It also seeks to increase awareness and knowledge in the society about autism, adopt academic and practical rehabilitation and training programs for staff specialized in dealing with the autistic community, and work on enhancing their skills.

The society also aims to motivate the government and private sectors to provide suitable employment opportunities for the autistic community. It seeks to participate in organizing and integrating efforts among sectors involved in caring for the autistic community, whether they are governmental, charitable, or private. The society's goals also include establishing care centers within the Kingdom, setting up a database for various types of autism cases, supporting and enhancing studies and research related to the causes of autism, treatment methods, care, and rehabilitation. Additionally, they work on preparing the autistic community for the job market by providing appropriate vocational rehabilitation programs.

The Society has many achievements, including: the National Project for Autism Awareness and Training, the program for sponsoring an autistic child, the publication of the Autism Magazine, the issuance of an autistic child card to facilitate the child's procedures in hospitals, airports, or public service institutions, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz's campaign for autism awareness, the establishment of the Vocational Rehabilitation Center and the Social Club for the autistic community affiliated with the Society, the establishment and operation of the Autism Diploma Institute for girls focusing on autism and behavioral disorders, and the opening of a clinic for diagnosing autism and similar developmental disorders, which operates under the national guidelines after its finalization and endorsement by the Ministry of Health.

The Society offers its services through several branches, including: Prince Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Autism Center in Riyadh, Autism Children's Care Center in Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, and Autism Children's Care Center in Dammam.

The Saudi Autistic Society funds its programs through various means including donations, grants, bequests, endowments, zakat, government subsidies, returns on investments from its tangible and intangible assets, membership fees, and funds allocated to it from the Association Support Fund, all in order to implement and further develop the society's programs.