Autism on the rise in Beirut and Mount Lebanon

Autism on the rise around the world

BEIRUT: New research reveals that the rate of autism in Beirut and Mount Lebanon has risen to one in 67, according to specialists who attended the second conference held by the OpenMinds Association and AUBMC Special Kids Clinic. The conference, held at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, gathered specialists from the United Kingdom, the United States and Lebanon to discuss children with special needs and the transition to adulthood. The lecturers focused their speeches on identifying the medical and social difficulties that children with autism or those with special needs experience. – See more at http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Dec-01/279434-autism-on-the-rise-in-beirut-and-mount-lebanon.ashx

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About the Areffis

The Areffis are the parents of three children with autism – Kennedy, age 10, Alex, age 9, and Bella, age 7. They wrote “Navigating Autism” because they were not able to find a book to guide them when Kennedy was diagnosed with autism in 2005. They were still struggling to get the assistance she needed when Alex was diagnosed on the spectrum in 2006 and Bella in 2008. They work tirelessly to support parents of autistic children, “We want to help as many people as possible,” says Melissa. “With early intervention, these kids can go on to become anything, and not dependent on disability services their entire lives. As parents, we want our kids to have a shot at happiness, and a ‘normal’ life. We figured we didn’t have any right to complain about how things are unless we did something about it to help.”

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