Two New Autism Centers to Open in Kurdistan
The Kurdistan Autism Association will establish two new autism centers in Harir and Rizgari to provide training for children and guidance for parents. The Association's president urged authorities to ensure the centers are equipped with expert staff.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – In a significant move to expand support for children with autism and their families, the Kurdistan Autism Association has announced a decision to establish two new specialized centers in the Kurdistan Region, targeting areas with a pressing need for such services.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, August 12, 2025, by Kamal Jabari, the President of the Kurdistan Autism Association, in a special statement provided to the Kurdistan24 website.
Mr. Jabari clarified that the primary goal of establishing these two new facilities is twofold: to provide essential training for children diagnosed with autism and, concurrently, to offer necessary guidance and support to their parents, empowering them to properly interact with and train their children at home.
Detailing the planned locations, the President of the Kurdistan Autism Association specified that "the two centers will be established in the town of Harir, part of the Shaqlawa district, and the town of Rizgari, within the Garmian administration's borders."
He stressed that these two areas were selected due to a great and demonstrated need for specialized autism services. This initiative is part of a broader strategic vision, with Mr. Jabari noting that there are future plans to open dedicated autism centers in every city and town throughout Kurdistan.
In another part of his statement, Kamal Jabari made a direct and crucial appeal to the relevant authorities who will oversee the construction and implementation of the centers.
"We ask that when the centers are built, the focus isn't just on the building itself, because a building alone is not enough," he urged. "It is crucial to provide them with specialized and expert staff so they can offer a fitting service."
This development comes as the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) continues its efforts to address the needs of this community. According to unofficial statistics, there are approximately 3,900 children with autism in the Kurdistan Region.
The KRG has previously opened several governmental and non-governmental centers for training and education. To further support families, the government has provided maternity leave for mothers who are public employees and have children with autism.
Additionally, this year the regional government sent a comprehensive list of all children with autism to Baghdad to have them officially registered as having special needs and allocated monthly assistance, though that registration process has not yet been completed by the federal government.
