ATF plans to use robot to befriend autistic children

DUBAI (WAM): To increase autism awareness in the U.A.E., the Autism Trust Foundation (ATF) Dubai has invested in a robot named Noah, specially designed to help in treating the children with autism, to enter their world and communicate with them to help them socialise. Announcing its new brand and upcoming awareness programmes, the ATF yesterday presented a short movie featuring autistic children and adults holding up placards bearing texts like, ‘I may not talk but I understand’, ‘Loud noises can make me anxious’, ‘I can tell you every fact about Elvis Presley,’ ‘I need understanding’. "We have agreed on buying the robot," Deputy Chairman of the ATF, Fahed Al Sheikh, told Khaleej Times, adding, "The robot has been approved but we are waiting for development of the software. The programming needs testing, so we’re waiting and it should arrive in Dubai in three to four months." The other revelation was the discount card, ‘ATF Unity Card’, for children diagnosed with autism from around the world to submit their paintings for a chance to win prizes. The card is also for those pursuing autism-related vocational courses from leading universities in the U.A.E. to have their tuition fees paid by the foundation. These ATF Unity Cards will be sold to individuals and corporates. The cards cost Dh300, and will enable discounts at outlets participating in a programme called ‘Live and Play In My World’. The ATF doesn’t operate on donations, it’s all funded by the Al Sheikh family. "We don’t have an issue raising funds, we have an issue raising awareness," he told the media. The ATF Dubai centre in Silicon Oasis has 32 children with autism. They don’t charge any fees and unlike some other institutions that are not equipped to deal with older children and adults with autism, at the ATF, there is no cap on the age or the severity of the autism case. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a range of complex neuro-development disorders, characterised by social impairments, communication difficulties, or restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour. Autism disorder, sometimes called autism or classical ASD, is the most severe form of ASD. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395270362924.html