Children with disabilities participate in short ‘marathon’ at Koya University

KOYA — Koya University, in Erbil’s Koya district, hosted a short marathon on Tuesday, bringing together approximately 20 children with autism, hearing impairments, and ADHD. The event marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The children, supported by the Lanwe Organization, receive specialized classes and training aimed at monitoring and addressing their conditions.

Gezang Rahman, director of Lanwe, told 964media, “On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we wanted these children to have a special activity, participating in events like any other individuals. Such activities create a significant impact on their development and serve as a step toward their rehabilitation.”

Rahman noted that the number of autism cases is on the rise, adding, “Our goal is to support and monitor children with autism, Down syndrome, and hearing impairments. We provide them with training to reduce the effects of their conditions.”

According to Koya’s Directorate of Social Monitoring, the number of children diagnosed with autism has reached 50. Officials stated that the rate is not static and continues to increase.

In April, the Kurdistan Autism Society announced a rise in autism diagnoses across the region. KAS officials reported 327 new cases recorded in 2023, bringing the total number of registered cases to 3,667. Erbil leads the Kurdistan Region with the highest number of reported cases.