Ibn Sina Center for Autism Care opens in Najaf

NAJAF — Haider Al-Amiri, 27, and Hussein Hadrawi, 28, from Najaf have achieved their dream of opening the Ibn Sina Center for Autism Care in the city’s Al-Askari neighborhood. This center offers specialized support for children with autism and other special needs, distinguishing itself from commercial facilities.

Both Haider and Hussein, the city’s only residents with degrees in special education from the University of Babylon, have committed their expertise and passion to this venture. They chose the Al-Askari neighborhood, predominantly home to lower-income families.

“We use modern methods approved by American universities and the World Health Organization,” said Hadrawi, director of the Ibn Sina Center. Focused on serving low-income families, the center charges 100,000 Iraqi dinars per month, considerably less than the typical fees of 750,000 to 800,000 dinars at other facilities.

Hadrawi and his colleague Haider established the center in a low-income area, noting that “many centers were more focused on profits than on patient care.” Despite opposition from competitors, they aim to provide accessible, high-quality care.

Al-Amiri, a trainer at the center, explained their multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating children with autism. “We have a department that diagnoses the child’s condition and determines the level of disability, which helps direct them to the appropriate department for their specific needs,” Al-Amiri said.

The center features a behavioral modification department to eliminate negative behaviors, a speech therapy section, and an early intervention department, which Al-Amiri highly recommends. “Our message to the community is to ensure early diagnosis of a child’s condition for more effective and faster treatment methods,” he said.

Additionally, the Ibn Sina Center includes support departments such as a salt room to ‘dispel negative energy’, a sensory integration room to treat sensory disorders, and a ballroom that combines therapy with entertainment using colors and music.

“At the Ibn Sina Center, we use therapeutic methods that were once used by scholars such as Ibn Al-Haytham and Ibn Sina, as well as modern techniques developed by the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization,” Al-Amiri stated.