According to the organization’s Public Relations and International Affairs Department, Fatemeh Abbasi marked World Autism Awareness Day by highlighting the characteristics of this neurodevelopmental condition and emphasizing the importance of early identification and specialized interventions during the critical developmental window.
She explained that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social interaction, challenges in perceptual processing, and repetitive behaviors. The term “spectrum” reflects the wide range and varying intensity of symptoms that may change throughout an individual’s life, resulting in different levels of support needs.
Rising Global Rates of Autism Identification
Citing World Health Organization (WHO) reports, Abbasi noted that approximately 1 in 100 children worldwide is identified with ASD. She added that the rise in diagnoses since the 1990s is linked to increased public awareness, standardized diagnostic protocols, and improved sensitivity of modern assessment tools. Children who were previously diagnosed under other labels, including intellectual disability, are now more accurately identified within the autism spectrum.
Abbasi stressed that early diagnosis is the most crucial step in improving quality of life, particularly interventions during the “golden developmental window” between ages 2 and 5. To support this, the Welfare Organization launched the National Autism Screening System in 2019 at autism.behzisti.net, enabling families to complete an online screening assessment.
She encouraged families to use the system, explaining that parents and caregivers of children aged 2 to 5 can evaluate their child’s status through the platform. If signs of concern appear, definitive diagnosis is carried out by specialist physicians and comprehensive growth and development centers under the Ministry of Health. After diagnosis is confirmed, families open a case file with the Welfare Organization, where the type and severity of disability are determined and they enter the cycle of support services and specialized interventions.
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