The Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities celebrates its silver jubilee this year, marking 25 years since its establishment, driven by the growing generosity towards advancing social development in the State of Qatar and supporting and empowering persons with disabilities, ensuring their integration into society so that none of them lag behind.

In preserving the rights of persons with disabilities in Qatar, the Shafallah Center was founded in 1999, aiming to provide exemplary services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism up to age 21 in the fields of special education, rehabilitation, as well as raising societal awareness about their issues and rights to attain a more independent life and integration into society.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the center's establishment, Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center, stated that supporting and empowering persons with disabilities is a fundamental pillar of Qatar's National Vision 2030. This belief stems from the importance of protecting human rights in general and the rights of persons with disabilities in particular.

On the other hand, Al-Suwaidi emphasized the center's pioneering role over the past years in providing specialized services for persons with disabilities. Over the past 25 years, it has sought to deliver specialized services in the fields of special education, rehabilitation, medical, and psychology, competing with services offered by leading international centers in this field. She noted that Qatar has made significant progress in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities and integrating them as a priority. This is evident when comparing Qatar's National Development Strategy for the period (2011 - 2016) with its strategy for the period (2018 - 2022), where the latter notably considers the societal integration of persons with disabilities.

 Al-Suwaidi stated that the third National Development Strategy for the period 2024-2030, launched by the state, reaffirms Qatar's commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable groups, ensuring they receive support and opportunities for active participation in society, and expanding social centers for persons with disabilities.

Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center, mentioned that this new strategic direction reflects the belief of planners, policymakers, and decision-makers in the country in the rights of persons with disabilities and the qualitative development in national policy, which aligns excellently with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She pointed out that Qatar has enshrined in its constitution, national laws, and Qatar Vision 2030 the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and the provision of their needs and appropriate support for them and their families as means to achieve equality and justice among members of Qatari society, rather than just providing services to them.

Regarding the significant achievements of the Shafallah Center over the past 25 years, Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center, explained that the center has accomplished numerous significant milestones during the previous years. She mentioned that approximately 140 individuals with disabilities were employed in various government and private sectors after graduating from the Shafallah Center between the years 2007 and 2023. Additionally, the Shafallah Center succeeded in implementing the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program in 2010. On another note, she pointed out that the Shafallah Center signed an agreement with Qatar Airways to establish a joint production line in 2012, where approximately 48 individuals with disabilities were employed.

On another note, Al-Suwaidi emphasized that Shafallah obtained international licenses and accreditations for specialists from the center to use the Autism Diagnosis Interview Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS2) for diagnosing and evaluating autism spectrum disorder in 2013.

Furthermore, the main station for assistive technology and specialist training was inaugurated in partnership with Mada Center in 2015. In the same year, five players from Shafallah Center won (first and second places) in the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, USA.

The Executive Director of the Shafallah Center mentioned that in 2017, a branch of the Shafallah Center was opened in the Al Hilal area due to the continuous increase in demand for the center's services. The Al Hilal branch worked to address the capacity shortfall, leading to a significant decrease in waiting lists.

In the same year, the Greenhouses project was launched. This project involves protected agricultural facilities that allow center affiliates with disabilities to cultivate some plants, imparting them with the necessary skills for production, marketing, and promoting awareness in this field, thus contributing to the development of their knowledge and enhancing their physical and mental abilities.

In another context, Maryam Al-Suwaidi emphasized the expansion of the Shafallah Center's service scope by launching a program for children aged up to 3 years (Portage) and also inaugurated the center's social media platforms in the same year.

In 2018, the Shafallah Center expanded its assistive technology service by inaugurating seven main assistive technology stations. Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center, pointed out the continuous increase in the number of affiliates joining the center, from 14 affiliates in 1999 to 644 affiliates in 2023.

In another context, Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center, stated that in 2019, the Shafallah Center opened the Muzn lounge at Hamad International Airport in collaboration with Qatar Airways. The lounge was dedicated to individuals with autism and disabilities, aiming to provide sensory integration for them while at the airport with their families. The new lounge was equipped with the latest assistive technology and educational equipment to provide the best travel experience for individuals with autism and disabilities, under the supervision of a specialized and trained team around the clock.

Furthermore, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center mentioned that the lounge would help provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere to promote the integration and empowerment of individuals with disabilities in society. It aims to provide them with technological tools and assistive solutions for a smooth and obstacle-free travel experience through Hamad International Airport.

She emphasized that the sensory stimulation room works on enhancing sensory skills by integrating auditory and visual effects such as sound, images, touch, as well as color, smell, light, and motion. This is aimed at assisting individuals with disabilities, autism, and communication disorders in meeting their desires and needs for communication, self-discipline, attention, and achieving the desired sensory integration.

Mrs. Maryam Al-Suwaidi also mentioned that one of the most prominent events held in 2019 was the organization of the charity dinner "Love Ball Arabia" to support issues related to disabilities in Qatar and Russia. The event was held under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, and Natalia Vodianova, as part of the cultural exchange program between Qatar and Russia. The charity dinner attracted prominent guests and international figures from around the world who attended to support the charity dinner, auction, and programs for children with disabilities in both Qatar and Russia. The total amount raised during the charity dinner and auction was $7,471,976, which was directed towards the initiatives of both the Shafallah Center and the Naked Heart Foundation.

Furthermore, in the same year, the Family Support Program for the external community was launched through the "Together for Them" program, targeting students in schools and organizations in the country.

The Executive Director of the Shafallah Center affirmed that the center achieved numerous accomplishments during the year 2020. The center received the Silver Award for the film "Let's Stay Together," produced by the Shafallah Center, at the New York Film Festival. Additionally, an online platform called "Virtual Classrooms" was launched through the Microsoft Teams program to communicate with families, address their inquiries, and provide them with a range of educational and therapeutic applications. Moreover, a hotline service was introduced to offer psychological, medical, and therapeutic consultations for families.

It is noteworthy to mention the artistic contributions of the affiliates both within and outside Qatar. Seven affiliates participated in an international competition in France, with three of them receiving certificates of appreciation from UNESCO. One affiliate even received a gold medal.

Regarding the significant projects of the center in 2021, Al-Suwaidi stated that the center initiated its developmental project in collaboration with Harvard University, implementing an early intervention program. Additionally, in 2022, the center announced the provision of seating systems aimed at modifying posture within classroom environments.

As for the most notable achievements of Shafallah in 2023, affiliates of the center participated in an international competition organized by the Louis François Center affiliated with UNESCO under the theme "Tales and Legends of My Country". Shafallah affiliates achieved 5 medals in total, including a gold medal for first place, two silver medals for third and fourth place, and two bronze medals for fifth and sixth place, along with a certificate from the judging committee.

In addition, the champions of Shafallah participated as part of the Qatari delegation in the opening of the 15th Special Olympics World Summer Games in Germany, achieving colorful medals in these Olympics.

In this context, Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center, emphasized that civil society in Qatar plays a vital and effective role in providing various services for people with disabilities. The Shafallah Center was established with the aim of enriching knowledge and supporting plans for preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services based on documented scientific principles. Over the past years, the Shafallah Center has played a leading role in providing specialized services for people with disabilities. It has strived to offer high-quality specialized, educational, rehabilitative, therapeutic, and psychological services, competing with those provided by leading international centers in this field. Additionally, the center is active in raising awareness about disabilities and organizes events that contribute to increasing awareness about the issues faced by people with disabilities across all sectors of society.

Regarding future plans that the Shafallah Center seeks to achieve, Mrs. Al-Suwaidi stated that they include providing the latest technology in the field of rehabilitating people with disabilities and working on developing training programs that suit the abilities of the members and align with the requirements of the job market. Additionally, the center aims to expand the range of services provided to its members and raise societal awareness about issues faced by people with disabilities.

Al-Suwaidi expressed her utmost gratitude and appreciation for the government's great care and unparalleled attention to this valuable segment of society under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, may God protect him.

On the other hand, Mrs. Maryam Saif Al-Suwaidi, the Executive Director of the Shafallah Center, praised the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Affairs and its close and cooperative collaboration with the center in implementing various events and future projects. These efforts aim to effectively contribute to the integration and empowerment of people with disabilities in society in line with Qatar's National Vision 2030.