Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP), chaired by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, lighted up the iconic Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in blue on April 2 to support the World Autism Awareness Day. 

 

This was done as part of Autism Speaks’ Light It Up Blue (LIUB) initiative, which was launched in 2010 with the goal of bringing the world’s attention to this developmental disability, said a statement. 

 

Every year more than 13,000 buildings and landmarks in over 45 countries shine a blue light to raise awareness of the millions of people affected by autism. World Autism Awareness Day, observed on April 2 every year, was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 and marks the start of Autism Awareness Month, a global effort to highlight the impact of this condition on millions of people around the world.

 

"The purpose of lighting the Kingdom Tower in blue is to raise awareness amongst Saudi citizens on the importance of being informed on global health issues, as well as shed light on the discrimination endured by Autistic people,” said Shahad Almufti, media and  communications representative at Alwaleed Philanthropies.

 

Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP) also supports a psychotherapy art course for the benefit of the Charitable Society for Autism Families in Riyadh. The course aims to train specialists in art therapy methods which have been scientifically proven to effectively treat autism. – TradeArabia News Service