Shafallah Center
The Shafallah Center, or Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, is a Qatar-based organization founded in 1999 for the welfare of people with intellectual disabilities, mainly autism spectrum disorders.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/04/tackling-autism-middle-east-20144118156804789.html|title=Tackling autism in the Middle East|publisher=Al Jazeera|author=Jassim Mater|date=15 April 2014|accessdate=6 December 2015}} The center provides health services and special care.{{cite web|url=https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/qatar-airways-employ-young-people-autism|title=Qatar Airways to Employ Young People With Autism|publisher=Autism Speaks|date=17 December 2014|accessdate=6 December 2015}} Additionally, Shafallah has education centers, and signs agreements with local firms in order to help its graduates secure jobs.{{cite web|url=http://www.qna.org.qa/en-us/News/15100717030051/HH-Sheikha-Moza-Witnesses-Shafallah-Center-Graduation-Ceremony|title=HH Sheikha Moza Witnesses Shafallah Center Graduation Ceremony|publisher=Qatar News Agency|date=7 October 2015|accessdate=6 December 2015}}
History
Activities
An annual forum focusing on global issues affecting people with disabilities is organized by the Shafallah Center. Called the Annual Shafallah Forum, topics of discussion at the forum include the difficulties faced by refugees and children with autism spectrum disorders in developing countries, and methods to alleviate these difficulties. Several world leaders have attended past editions.{{cite web|url=http://www.abilitymagazine.com/shafallah-forum-5.html|title=Qatar — The Fifth International Shafallah Forum|publisher=Ability Magazine|date=2012|accessdate=6 December 2015}}
Autism research is conducted at the organization's Medical Genetic Center. Shafallah has also conducted genome sequencing as a research tool on a local scale.{{cite web|url=http://dohanews.co/shafallah-to-conduct-autism-research-on-families-in/|title=Shafallah to conduct autism research on families in Qatar as part of international study|publisher=Doha News|date=25 November 2012|accessdate=6 December 2015}}
In October 2015, Shafallah saw its first-ever batch of students graduate. The graduation class had 189 students.
Partnerships
Shafallah Center is partnered with American organization Autism Speaks. In December 2014, Shafallah signed an agreement with Qatar Airways in order to provide preferential employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual abilities. This resulted in a minimum of 25 members of Shafallah being employed by the airline.{{cite web|url=http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/qatar/311503/qa-recruits-shafallah-center-members|title=QA recruits Shafallah Center members|publisher=The Peninsula|date=14 December 2014|accessdate=6 December 2015}}