Behzisti and Iran's vocational training body team up on jobs and skills for people with autism
Hopeful news for people with autism and their families: according to IRNA, Iran's State Welfare Organization (Behzisti) and the Technical and Vocational Training Organization are working together to identify and define the jobs, fields and skills in which people with autism can train and work.
Starting from strengths
Speaking to IRNA, Farhad Aghtar, a psychiatrist who heads rehabilitation education and day centres at Behzisti, said some people with autism may have notable strengths in repetitive tasks and work that needs precision and order, such as warehousing, arranging goods in a store, or sorting and shelving books. Stressing that every person is different, he said the goal is to identify skills that match each person's abilities and to open the way to training and employment.
As children grow up
Aghtar said about 170 day centres now operate across Iran, and an initial estimate suggests around 6,000 children under 14 use their services, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy and sensory integration; he noted the exact figures still need to be checked and announced. As these children grow older their needs change, and learning skills for life and work becomes important. That is why setting up centres for people over 14 and expanding skills training are now on the agenda. Anyone who wants to open such a centre applies through Iran's national licensing portal.
Understanding builds kindness
Aghtar reminded readers that people with autism are part of society, and that public awareness, from parks and queues to the media, helps others understand them better. He also called for full implementation of Iran's law on the rights of people with disabilities and more support for families with medical costs.
At SufiChain we like this story because it starts from what people can do, not from what they can't. We hope this cooperation turns into real training and job opportunities for people with autism.
