One of the most important figures working in favour of these children and people in need in general is the Mauritanian First Lady Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah

The Mauritanian Autistic Children's Association and its great and intense work

photo_camera The Autistic Children's Association Zayed Centre of Mauritania

The Association for Autistic Children Zayed Centre of Mauritania is the first entity specialised in the treatment and rehabilitation of autistic children in the African country. The driving force behind this work for these children is the First Lady of Mauritania, Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah.  

Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah is very involved in humanitarian aid issues and in supporting social initiatives that seek to help the social groups that need it most. A great example of this work in favour of the most needy is the Association of Autistic Children of Mauritania.  

This organisation that helps these minors carries out a great and intense work with work groups and methods that help these children to progress positively. 

The association addresses a population of children previously diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) between 3 and 14 years of age. The children are divided into 6 classes of 6 children each, according to age and ability. The association has specialised rehabilitation sections.  

It organises sports activities and various leisure activities. It offers 120 individual rehabilitation sessions per week for 60 children not affiliated to the centre (afternoon sessions).  

Care classes 

The children receive care that covers all areas of development according to global developmental standards.

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Individual rehabilitation sessions  

Each child receives 5 individual sessions of 50-60 minutes per week each, and refresher sessions by educators. 

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Early Intervention Class  

This early intervention class, from the age of 2, helps to reduce the symptoms of autism and improve the children's abilities. 

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Speech therapy 

Each child receives speech therapy in two sessions per week to address language and communication difficulties. 

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Occupational therapy 

All children enrolled in the association benefit from two sessions of occupational therapy whose aim is to develop independence, autonomy and to treat psychomotor problems.  

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Physiotherapy 

The physiotherapist provides orthopaedic re-education for children with mobility or general motor difficulties linked to a psychomotor problem. 

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Therapeutic leisure activities

Swimming  

Swimming is offered twice a week to help children with autism develop their sensory-motor skills and their communication and social skills

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Riding therapy  

Horse riding is offered twice a week with the aim of encouraging communication, sensory integration and reducing hyperactivity in children with autism. 

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Painting 

Painting aims to develop the level of communication, interaction, expressiveness and fine motor skills of children with autism. 

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Workshops 

These workshops (cooking, gardening, sewing, etc.) aim to promote autonomy and social and professional integration. 

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Medical care  

The association has an agreement with a neurologist who makes a monthly visit to monitor the children.  

Volunteer dentists make regular visits and consultations. 

The association's activities in figures.  

During 4 years of activity, the association has provided a total of 72,504 individual educational and paramedical sessions, distributed as follows: 

  • Special education: more than 44,568 individual sessions. 
  • Speech therapy: more than 14,400 individual sessions  
  • Occupational therapy: more than 8,424 individual sessions 
  • Physiotherapy: more than 5,112 individual sessions 

Since its opening, the association has offered a free diagnostic service (more than 500 children affected). 

Continuous training 

The association offers a continuous training programme open to any person who interacts with children with autism. The following people have benefited from it from the last four years: 

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  • Parents of children with autism registered with the association (or not registered) / one session per week (256 sessions since the opening of the association). 
  • Educational assistants working in the association have benefited from intensive training during the first year and continuous theoretical training at the end of each month, as well as daily practical follow-up during their activities with the children. 
  • Those in charge of the training and social promotion centre for disabled children (25 people), received a 2-month training in special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. 

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